Ryanair joins calls for EES peak summer suspension

Ryanair has added its weight to aviation industry demands for the EU Entry Exit System (EES) to be suspended for the summer peak.

Europe’s largest short-haul airline warned that the EU’s passport control is not ready for the end-of-school-term travel period, as millions of families prepare to travel on summer holidays.

The no-frills carrier is calling on European governments to suspend the rollout of EES until September, when the busiest travel period has passed.

Airports such as Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Krakow and Paris Beauvais are experiencing major disruption, with further congestion expected as we enter the busiest weeks of summer. 

Ryanair is advising passengers of the increased queues at passport control when travelling to non-Schengen destinations, and to arrive earlier at the airport.

Checks may require scanning passports, providing fingerprints and having a facial image taken.

But Ryanair warned that the current infrastructure is not ready to manage the high passenger volumes expected during peak season, due to insufficient staff, kiosks and system readiness.

Ryanair has reiterated its concerns to the governments of the most exposed countries, urging them to take action, protect consumers during a crucial period and postpone EES until September, as permitted under EU law.

“However, despite the clear impact on passengers and families this summer, there has been zero response to fix this major challenge,” the airline noted.

Airports association ACI Europe joined Airlines for Europe and Iata in writing to EC president Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, warning: “We’ve reached a critical point. Waiting times at border control have increased significantly, now reaching up to five hours during peak traffic periods.”

Ryanair 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.

“Ryanair calls on European governments once again to delay the implementation to protect passengers, families and airport operations during the school holiday rush, instead of forcing holidaymakers to endure needless passport control chaos.”