Ryanair warns of long queues at 16 airports following EU rule change | World | News
The airline has warned of long queues at 16 airports (Image: Getty)
Ryanair has warned travellers to prepare for longer queues at border control after the European Union introduced new entry requirements. The bloc’s new digital Entry Exit System (EES) requires non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area – made up of 29 European countries – to register fingerprints and a photo when they arrive. The information is checked as they leave.
EES, rolled out fully in April, involves people from third-party countries such as the UK having their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 European countries, mainly in the EU.
The introduction has led to hours-long queues at some European airports, with Ryanair blasting “the failed EES rollout” as unnecessary.
Ryanair has warned about the impact on travellers (Image: Getty)
Earlier this month, Ryanair identified popular European airports in Spain, Italy, France and Poland where passengers are suffering long EES delays.
The airline warned that the sites are “not ready” to manage the high passenger volumes during the peak summer season because of “insufficient staff, kiosks and system readiness”.
The company has warned of 16 European airports where travellers can expect “significant” queues.
Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, said: “Families heading away for a well-earned summer holiday should be thinking about suitcases, suncream and sangria, not standing in passport queues for hours.
“The reality is that the EES system isn’t working properly and families are paying the price for a system that does not work months after launch.
“Passengers should not be the testing ground for unfinished border infrastructure.
“We support calls from EU Member States to urgently extend the EES flexibilities. This will give airports and border authorities the time to improve the infrastructure, fix the broken devices and hire more staff so that families can travel through Europe without disruption.”
The boss of the Port of Dover has warned it will “face repeated episodes of severe congestion” throughout the summer without more flexibility in EES.
Chief executive Doug Bannister predicted that queuing cars will be “spilling out of the port onto the public highway for miles” unless something changes, adding “the local impact could be dire”.
The port declared a “critical incident” during the May half-term period after waiting times reached four-and-a-half hours.
Shadow Home Office minister Matt Vickers lamented the “delusional attitude among EU colleagues” that “EES is working just fine”.
Reiterating his call for the scheme to be halted during the peak holiday season, he added: “The Government must stand behind the interests of British travellers.”
Meanwhile there are widespread reports the introduction of Etias – a new online system to pre-authorise entry to the EU – is set to be delayed until next year.
Full list of airports impacted
Alicante
Berlin
Budapest
Cologne
Frankfurt Hahn
Krakow
Lanzarote
Lisbon
Madrid
Malaga
Milan Bergamo
Milan Malpensa
Palma/Majorca
Paris Beauvais
Tenerife South
Verona
