Ryanair Warns of Long Queues at 15 European Airports

What happened

Ryanair issued a public warning about expected lengthy queues at 15 European airports including Lisbon, Tenerife South, Madrid, Lanzarote, Alicante, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Milan Malpensa, Verona, Paris Beauvais, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt Hahn, Krakow and Budapest. The airline attributes these delays to the EU's new entry-exit system (EES), which was rolled out in full in April and requires non-EU nationals to submit biometric data such as facial images and fingerprints when entering the Schengen area. Ryanair's Chief Operations Officer Neal McMahon criticised the system as not working properly months after launch, stating that passengers should not be the testing ground for unfinished border infrastructure. The airline is advising UK families travelling during peak summer season to allow extra time for their journey and prepare for extended waits at passport control.

Why it matters

The delays directly impact Ryanair's operational efficiency and customer experience at key destinations during the peak summer travel season. Extended passport control wait times can lead to missed connections, customer dissatisfaction, and potential reputational damage for the airline. The issue affects Ryanair's ability to maintain its low-cost, high-efficiency business model, which relies on quick turnarounds and minimal delays. Additionally, disruptions at major hubs could affect load factors and customer loyalty if travellers choose alternative destinations or carriers to avoid affected airports.

Bigger picture

The EES implementation challenges extend beyond Ryanair, affecting the entire European travel industry. Travel industry heads have widely criticised the system for causing hours-long queues at many airports across the bloc. Border controls currently have temporary flexibility to suspend biometric data collection until early September, but Ryanair has joined broader industry calls to extend this flexibility until early 2027. This extension would give airports and border authorities time to fix faulty kiosks, increase staffing levels, and ensure the system operates efficiently before full enforcement resumes.

What to watch

Monitor whether EU Member States agree to extend the EES flexibility period beyond September as Ryanair and other industry stakeholders have requested. Watch for improvements in processing times at the identified airports as border authorities address infrastructure and staffing issues. Track customer complaint levels and any operational metrics Ryanair releases regarding delays at these affected airports throughout the summer season. Pay attention to whether the delays materially impact Ryanair's punctuality statistics or financial performance during the peak travel period.