EU Airport Chaos Feared: Ryanair Warns of Summer Delays & Fingerprint Checks

Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, has issued a stark warning about potential "queue chaos" at EU airports this summer. The airline is concerned about the implementation of new fingerprint checks as part of the European Union’s new entry and exit system (EES), claiming that passengers should not be treated as "guinea pigs" for a "half-baked" system.

The European Commission has called for an urgent meeting next Tuesday with air industry representatives to address these concerns. Industry bodies like Airlines for Europe and Airports Council International have already requested a suspension of the new border controls, suggesting a delay "at least throughout July and August" or even for a full year until next summer. They fear that airports are not adequately prepared for the high volume of passengers expected during the peak season, which could lead to staff facing abuse and the entire travel industry suffering.

Ryanair specifically highlighted seven airports that are already experiencing significant disruptions due to these issues, with further congestion anticipated as the holiday season progresses. These airports include Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante, and Málaga in Spain; Milan Bergamo in Italy; Krakow in Poland; and Paris Beauvais in France.

Neal McMahon, Ryanair’s chief operating officer, emphasized that the EES is clearly not ready for the demands of peak summer travel. He reiterated that holidaymakers and families should not have their plans jeopardized by an underdeveloped passport control system that risks creating extensive queues and delays. The airline has urged for the system’s suspension until September in the "most exposed countries" to prevent widespread problems.

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