Ryanair, which operates flights from Birmingham, has issued a warning for UK holidaymakers and tourists flying to seven European airports where new biometric checks are causing significant delays. The low-cost carrier, competing with airlines such as Jet2, TUI, Easyjet, Wizz Air, and British Airways, has identified Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante, and Malaga in Spain, Milan Bergamo in Italy, Krakow Airport in Poland, and Paris Beauvais in France as the airports most impacted by the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES).
Airports not ready for peak summer volumes
Ryanair stated that these airports are "not ready" for the new biometric checks, citing "insufficient staff, kiosks, and system readiness." The airline is advising passengers traveling between Schengen and non-Schengen destinations this summer to arrive at airports earlier than usual, as families face "passport queue chaos" due to EES. The system, which requires biometric data collection for non-EU nationals, has led to long queues and missed flights.
Ryanair calls for suspension of EES rollout
Ryanair, led by CEO Michael O'Leary, has called on the UK Labour government to "suspend the rollout" of EES until September to avoid passengers suffering "long and avoidable passport control queues." The airline said it has urged the governments of "the most exposed countries" to take action but "there has been zero response to fix this major challenge."
Ryanair's chief operations officer Neal McMahon said: "As schools break up and Europe enters the busiest travel period of the year, it is clear that EES is still not ready for peak summer volumes. Passengers and families should not be used as guinea pigs for a half-baked passport control system that risks creating long queues, missed flights and unnecessary stress at airports this summer. It is as simple as postponing EES until September, as other EU countries like Greece have already done."
Full list of affected airports
- Tenerife South, Spain
- Palma, Spain
- Alicante, Spain
- Malaga, Spain
- Milan Bergamo, Italy
- Krakow Airport, Poland
- Paris Beauvais, France
Ryanair advises passengers to check their flight status and allow extra time for passport control. The airline continues to urge EU authorities to address the system's shortcomings before the peak summer season.
