Ryanair Urges EU to Keep EES Flexibility Until April 2027
Ryanair is asking the European Commission to keep the EU Entry/Exit System derogation in place until at least April 2027. The airline says the derogation’s removal on 6 September has produced two- to three-hour queues at airports such as Krakow, Lisbon, Milan and Rome, citing faulty biometric kiosks and border staffing shortages. The EES requires non-EU travellers to register fingerprints and facial images when entering or leaving the Schengen area, and the derogation let member states suspend parts of it during severe congestion.
Ryanair wants Brussels to reinstate the EES flexibility through at least April 2027. The carrier says ending the waiver on 6 September worsened border processing, with two- to three-hour waits reported at Krakow, Lisbon, Milan and Rome. It attributes the problems to broken biometric equipment and too few border staff.
The EES obliges non-EU travellers to provide fingerprints and facial images when crossing Schengen borders, replacing passport stamps. The derogation had let states pause parts of the system when congestion became severe. Ryanair, a major operator to and from Ireland, warns Irish travellers heading to Schengen destinations this autumn and winter may face longer connections and arrivals.
The disruption could affect non-EU travellers, including Irish passengers flying to Schengen destinations, through longer queues, missed connections and added travel stress. Airports and airlines may face higher operational costs and reputational pressure, while border agencies could confront demands for more staffing and reliable biometric equipment. If delays persist, public confidence in the new system may weaken, though the long-term effect remains uncertain.