Ryanair CEO Warns Passengers Flights Will Depart Without Them

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary warned passengers that aircraft will depart without them if they are not present at the boarding gate by the time boarding finishes. Speaking on The Travel Expert podcast, O'Leary stated that the airline will not delay flights for travelers stuck in passport control queues, asserting that arriving on time is the responsibility of the passenger.

The warning follows significant travel disruptions since April, triggered by changes to the European Union's Entry-Exit System (EES) digital borders scheme. These changes have caused wait times of up to three hours at airports within the Schengen Area, leaving hundreds of travelers to miss flights and pay uncovered costs for hotels and replacement travel.

O'Leary criticized EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen as "stupid" regarding these travel rules and described the current lack of passenger rights for those stranded by these delays as "regrettable".