Ryanair Urges EU to Suspend Entry Exit System

Budget airline Ryanair has warned passengers traveling from Manchester Airport to seven major European destinations about severe delays caused by the European Union's new Entry Exit System (EES). The airline reports that the system, which requires non-EU nationals to provide biometric data including fingerprints and photographs, is unprepared for peak summer volumes due to insufficient staffing and a lack of kiosks. Wait times of up to six hours have been reported at Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante, Malaga, Krakow, Milan Bergamo, and Paris Beauvais.

Ryanair is calling on European governments to suspend the EES rollout until September. Chief Operations Officer Neal McMahon described the passport control system as half-baked, arguing that passengers should not be used as guinea pigs. The airline suggests other EU nations follow the example of Greece, which previously delayed the system's implementation.

Other industry leaders have echoed these concerns. Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy praised Greek authorities for acting in the best interests of UK holidaymakers and urged a similar pause in other countries. Additionally, Malta Air CEO Dave O'Brien previously threatened to cancel all flights to Malta over the disruptions. Mozio CEO Nicole Kerr warned that these biometric checks, combined with airport strikes and taxi queues, present significant challenges for summer travelers.