Almost 70 passengers scheduled to fly from Lanzarote to Edinburgh with Ryanair missed their flight on Monday due to delays at border control. The travelers heading back to Edinburgh were left stranded at Lanzarote Airport on May 4 as a result of issues with the airport’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which registers third-country nationals, including British citizens. The malfunction in the EES caused 68 holidaymakers to not make it to the boarding gate in time for departure closure.
Ryanair ensured that all passengers who arrived at the boarding gate before takeoff were accommodated and able to travel without any problems. The disruption mainly impacted travelers heading to destinations outside the European Union, according to local reports.
The EES mandates travelers to provide biometric data like fingerprints and a photo to create a digital record valid for three years, replacing the conventional passport stamping process. Despite its intended purpose of expediting passport checks and monitoring visa-free travelers’ EU stays, the system has encountered delays, leading to extensive queues at passport control in various locations.
Lanzarote Airport experienced operational chaos by midday due to a passport control system failure, causing delays and confusion among departing passengers. The issue, reportedly triggered by a broader disconnection problem across Europe, affected multiple airports but was resolved later.
Ryanair has been urging EU governments to suspend the EES during the peak travel season, emphasizing the inconvenience faced by passengers due to lengthy passport control queues and missed flights. The airline’s chief operations officer Neal McMahon highlighted the need for a smoother airport experience by temporarily halting the EES until after the busy summer travel period.
The Spanish National Police Force has been approached for comments regarding the incident.