Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has reported significant delays at passport control points at European airports, blaming the implementation of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) and a “punitive stance” against the UK following Brexit.
As he mentioned, queues of up to 4 hours have already been recorded, with characteristic examples of airports in popular destinations such as Tenerife, Malta and Krakow. The delays are attributed, among other things, to understaffing at checkpoints, but also to the fact that passengers who have already been registered in the system are served in the same queues as the rest.
The new EES system requires all non-EU travelers to undergo biometric checks, including fingerprinting and a photo, upon entry. The full implementation is expected by April 10, while more than 45 million passengers have already been recorded since October.
The head of Ryanair described the implementation of the system as “chaotic”, warning that the situation will deteriorate significantly during the summer period when passenger traffic increases due to school holidays. At the same time, he estimated that smaller airports in countries such as Spain and Portugal — including Seville, Alicante and Faro — would face the biggest problems.
He called on EU member states to consider postponing the full implementation of the system until October, taking advantage of the possibility of delaying it by up to five months.
According to the European Airports Council, waiting times at checkpoints have already worsened, often reaching up to 2 hours during peak periods, with some airports experiencing even longer delays.
The European Union, for its part, notes that the new system aims to enhance security and prevent identity fraud. So far, it has led to the refusal of entry to more than 600 people who were considered a security risk.
British officials have already warned of changes in travel procedures in anticipation of Easter, urging citizens to allow extra time when crossing borders.
