Ryanair has warned that it may reduce flights to Malta unless the country addresses persistent border control queues at its airport, which have been exacerbated by the EU's new entry/exit system (EES). David O'Brien, chief executive of Ryanair's Maltese arm Malta Air, told the Times of Malta that the airline could redirect capacity to other Mediterranean destinations if congestion and delays continue.
Non-EU travellers, particularly from the UK—Malta's largest market—are most affected by the hold-ups, with queues lasting up to 40 minutes. O'Brien stated that Europe is "utterly unprepared" for the system, adding that Malta has not yet faced summer peak demand. David Curmi, executive chairman of national carrier KM Malta, also expressed concern, noting that airlines are forced to compensate passengers who miss flights due to border delays.
Both executives have called for a temporary suspension of the EES to prevent disruption during peak summer months. The system, which requires biometric data such as fingerprints and photographs, has caused chaos at airports across Europe. Greece has already halted biometric checks for British tourists to avoid lengthy queues.
In a separate incident, 122 passengers missed a flight from Milan Linate to Manchester on Sunday due to passport control delays caused by the EES. The Home Office had previously warned of longer wait times, and travel groups advised visitors to allow extra time for the new procedures.
