Ryanair cautions British families to brace for extended passport queues and airport delays resulting from the European Union’s new automated border control system. The budget airline highlights that the Entry/Exit System (EES), replacing physical passport stamps with digital records for travelers, continues to cause disruptions months after its full operation commenced on April 10.
Specifically, fifteen destinations are currently experiencing substantial delays due to sluggish processing times and lengthy passport control queues on both incoming and outgoing flights, as warned by Ryanair. With summer break for schools underway and passenger traffic reaching peak levels, the flawed EES rollout is expected to lead to unnecessary delays and long lines for UK families.
Despite the live implementation of EES, numerous airports still lack fully operational self-service kiosks, while border staffing levels and infrastructure remain insufficient to handle peak passenger influx, resulting in avoidable delays and heightened stress for UK travelers during the peak holiday season.
Ryanair advises UK travelers to non-Schengen destinations or transiting through affected European airports to anticipate prolonged waits at passport control, as the new EES checks may entail passport scanning, fingerprint capture, and facial image verification.
The airline supports the urgent extension of current EES flexibilities into early 2027, as proposed by EU Member States, to grant airports additional time to rectify malfunctioning kiosks, bolster staff numbers, and ensure smooth system operations before full enforcement is enforced.
Neal McMahon, Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, emphasized the necessity for a functional EES system to prevent families from enduring lengthy passport queues and disruptions during their summer vacations. The airline advocates for immediate actions to enhance border infrastructure, repair faulty devices, and increase staffing to facilitate seamless travel experiences for families exploring Europe.