Ryanair (FR) has reiterated that it will not delay departures for passengers caught in passport control queues caused by the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), with CEO Michael O’Leary saying flights will leave as scheduled even if travellers have not reached the gate.
The warning comes after an Athens (ATH)-to-London Luton (LTN) flight departed without more than 20 passengers who were still waiting to clear border checks, one of several similar incidents reported since the EES became operational.
Ryanair Will Not Hold Flights
Speaking on Simon Calder’s Travel Expert podcast for The Telegraph, O’Leary said passengers are responsible for reaching the boarding gate before it closes. “We will not wait for anybody,” he said, adding that anyone who is not at the gate when boarding ends should expect the aircraft to depart without them.
According to O’Leary, Ryanair will not delay flights because of long passport control queues. Instead, passengers should allow additional time at the airport and ensure they arrive at the gate before boarding closes. He acknowledged that the situation has frustrated many travellers but said holding aircraft for late-arriving passengers would disrupt schedules across the airline’s wider network.
The EU’s Entry/Exit System was fully introduced in April 2026. The scheme requires non-EU nationals, including British passport holders, to register biometric information such as facial images and fingerprints when entering the Schengen Area across 29 participating countries.
Since its launch on April 10, airports have reported longer processing times at border checkpoints, with several passengers missing flights because of extended queues.
Athens Flight Left More Than 20 Passengers Behind
The latest incident involved a Ryanair service from Athens to London Luton.
The affected passengers had checked in and arrived at the airport on time but became delayed while clearing passport control. Before the flight could depart, baggage belonging to those passengers had to be removed, contributing to an overall departure delay of around one hour. Neither Ryanair nor Athens International Airport directly blamed the Entry/Exit System. The airline referred to border delays, while the airport cited additional processing requirements.
Airport officials also acknowledged congestion in the departures area, attributing it to high passenger volumes and the extra checks required for non-Schengen travellers.
Similar Delays Across Europe
The Athens disruption follows several comparable incidents at European airports. In April, around 100 easyJet passengers reportedly missed a Milan-to-Manchester flight after waiting up to three hours at passport control.
A month later, a Ryanair flight from Toulouse to London Stansted departed without approximately 150 passengers who were still held up at border checks.
Consumer group Which? Travel reviewed hundreds of complaints related to the EES and identified Alicante, Amsterdam Schiphol, Berlin, Krakow, Lisbon, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Milan Linate, Palma de Mallorca, Paris Beauvais, and Tenerife South among the airports receiving the most criticism. Ryanair has also identified 15 European airports where passengers continue to experience significant delays because of slow border processing.
Ryanair Calls for More Time
Ryanair has been one of the strongest critics of the Entry/Exit System.
The airline previously wrote to the 29 participating countries requesting that the rollout be postponed until September to avoid lengthy queues and widespread disruption. Chief Operations Officer Neal McMahon argued that passengers and families should not become “guinea pigs” for what he described as a “half-baked passport control system.” He also noted that Greece had already postponed implementation.
The airline now supports proposals from several EU member states to extend the current operational flexibilities, saying airports need more time to repair faulty equipment, improve infrastructure, and recruit additional staff.
Missed Flights Can Be Costly
According to Inkl, some passengers have spent hundreds of pounds on replacement flights and accommodation after missing departures because of passport control delays. O’Leary described the situation as “regrettable” and acknowledged that passengers delayed at border control are often not personally at fault.
However, travellers who fail to reach the boarding gate before departure are generally not entitled to a free rebooking. Ryanair’s policy also states that passengers who do not travel on a flight operating as scheduled are typically ineligible for a refund, while travel insurance may not cover the resulting expenses.
Airlines Urge Earlier Airport Arrival
Several airlines are now advising passengers to allow significantly more time at airports.
Wizz Air recommends arriving three hours before departure on flights returning to the UK from Europe, while both Ryanair and easyJet have warned customers to expect extended passport control queues. During the busy summer travel period, some guidance suggests allowing up to four hours before departure.
Despite the ongoing disruption, Ryanair’s policy remains unchanged. As O’Leary put it, passengers who do not reach the gate before boarding closes should expect that “the plane is going without you.”