Nearly 70 Ryanair passengers found themselves stranded at Lanzarote Airport on May 4 due to failures in the new passport control system. The disruption stemmed from significant operational challenges during peak travel season.
The delays affected 68 passengers who missed their flight to Edinburgh as they encountered lengthy queues at border control. Reports indicate that the airport’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), designed to register third-country nationals, including British citizens, was responsible for the hold-up.
The EES requires travelers to provide biometric data like fingerprints and photographs, which was intended to streamline passport checks and monitor visa-free travelers’ duration in the EU. However, this system faced issues starting around 11am, causing chaos for travelers. Fortunately, by midday, the problem had been resolved.
Ryanair confirmed that all passengers who presented at the boarding gate before departure were accommodated. Still, many expressed frustration over the situation. Neal McMahon, Ryanair’s chief operations officer, criticized the timing of the EES implementation.
“Governments across Europe are attempting to roll out a half-baked IT system in the middle of the busiest travel season of the year,” McMahon said. “Passengers are paying the price, being forced to endure hours-long passport control queues and in some cases, missing flights.”
In light of these disruptions, Ryanair has urged EU governments to suspend the EES until September when summer travel peaks have subsided. They have reached out to 29 countries regarding this request.
The situation raises questions about future travel regulations and border control issues as more travelers prepare for summer vacations. As airlines and airports navigate these challenges, it remains crucial for authorities to ensure smoother operations for all travelers.
