Ryanair Warns Passport Queues Won’t Hold the Plane
Ryanair has warned summer passengers that its aircraft will not wait for anyone delayed at passport control. Chief executive Michael O’Leary said the airline’s priority is customers already at the gate when boarding begins, and flights will leave once boarding closes. The warning follows reports of lengthy queues linked to the EU’s Entry/Exit System at several European airports during the peak holiday season.
What to Know Before Flying
- Airline: Ryanair
- Issue: Longer passport-control queues linked to EES
- EES status: Fully operational since 10 April 2026
- Affected travellers: Many non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss visitors crossing Schengen external borders
- Airline advice: Arrive earlier and reach the gate before boarding closes
- Arrival time: Check guidance for the specific airport; Ryanair gives no universal three or four-hour rule
The EES replaced passport stamps with digital records and biometric checks for many non-EU visitors. Ryanair says its introduction has contributed to long queues, while recent incidents in Toulouse and Athens left large groups behind after they failed to reach their gates before departure. The airline has repeatedly asked European authorities to ease or suspend the system during the busiest summer weeks.
The warning is particularly relevant at airports serving destinations such as Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife, Lisbon, Milan, Krakow, Budapest and Berlin, which Ryanair has identified among recurring EES pressure points. These routes remain available, but anyone planning beach breaks or city trips should allow more time for passport control on both arrival and departure, especially during weekends and school holidays.
Ryanair has not issued one arrival time for every airport, so passengers should follow their departure airport’s guidance and add extra time where EES queues have been reported. Reaching the terminal early is not enough if passport control stands between security and the gate. Once boarding closes, delays elsewhere in the airport will not keep the aircraft on the ground.