Ryanair has issued a caution for families planning to travel during the upcoming summer season. The airline has criticized the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), stating that it is not adequately prepared for the surge in travel expected as families embark on their summer vacations across Europe.
To address the potential issues, Ryanair is urging European governments to halt the implementation of EES until September, after the peak travel period, to avoid lengthy and unnecessary passport control queues that could inconvenience passengers, especially those traveling with young children.
The call from Ryanair follows a joint statement by top representative bodies for airports and airlines in Europe, highlighting the critical delays caused by EES. The industry groups have reported significant disruptions, with some flights being delayed due to prolonged passport control queues, reaching up to five hours in peak times.
Passengers have been advised by Ryanair to anticipate increased queues at passport control, particularly when traveling to non-Schengen destinations, and to arrive at the airport earlier. The airline has emphasized the challenges posed by the current infrastructure, citing insufficient staff, kiosks, and system readiness to handle the expected high passenger volumes during the summer peak season.
Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, emphasized the need to postpone the implementation of EES until after the summer rush to prevent operational disruptions and stress for passengers and families. The airline is calling on European governments to prioritize passenger experience and airport operations by avoiding unnecessary chaos at passport control checkpoints during the busy holiday season.