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EU Ends Border ‘Safety Valve’ as Airlines Warn of More Delays
Ryanair said delays of two to three hours hit European airports this summer and urged Brussels to extend the exemption until April 2027.
- On Monday, Ryanair Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon urged the European Commission to extend the Entry-Exit System derogation until April 2027, following the exemption policy's expiration on Sunday.
- The EES, which replaced traditional passport stamping in April, has caused significant disruptions since its October 2025 launch. Airlines and airports repeatedly warned Brussels that the system would create excessive queues and lengthen processing times.
- Border control delays reached up to two to three hours this summer in Krakow, Lisbon, Milan, and Rome. Ryanair claims these disruptions demonstrate the system is not ready, "forcing passengers to pay the price."
- With the exemption policy having lapsed on Sunday, border authorities now lack a formal release valve to manage heavy demand. The carrier argues this expiration forces passengers to endure excessive delays without necessary operational fixes.
- Ryanair seeks the extension to allow airports and Member States time to fix malfunctioning kiosks and increase staffing levels. The airline insists these improvements must occur before full enforcement is introduced to prevent further travel chaos.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
New technology is designed to improve border controls at airports, but airlines are complaining about long waiting times for passengers without an EU passport. Special rules for system launch have now expired.
·Frankfurt, Germany
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Left
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Left
60% Left
L 60%
C 20%
R 20%
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