Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Mon, 7 Sept) called on the EU Commission to immediately extend the Entry/Exit System (EES) derogation until at least Apr 2027, following its expiry on Sun, 6 Sept. The derogation allowed Member States to temporarily suspend EES to prevent severe border control congestion. However, despite the ongoing disruptions being suffered by passengers, the EU Commission has allowed this important flexibility to expire. 

Airlines, airports and industry bodies have repeatedly warned that the EU’s ill-planned EES rollout is increasing border processing times, creating excessive queues and causing avoidable disruption for passengers across Europe. This was evidenced this Summer when border control delays reached up to 2-3 hours in the likes of Krakow, Lisbon, Milan and Rome. The EU Commission cannot allow this avoidable disruption to passengers continue.  

While the EU Commission continues to insist that EES is working, the reality for passengers is very different. Border authorities are still trying to manage with malfunctioning kiosks, staffing shortages and processing delays. Removing the derogation now leaves Member States with no flexibility to prevent further disruption during peak periods. 

Ryanair calls on the EU Commission to urgently extend the EES derogation until at least Apr 2027, giving airports and border authorities the time needed to fix the broken kiosks, increase staffing levels and ensure the system can operate efficiently before full enforcement is imposed on passengers. 

Ryanair’s COO Neal McMahon, said: 

“The EU’s handling of EES has been a shambles from start to finish. 

Airlines, airports and border authorities repeatedly warned Brussels that the rollout was not ready, that it would increase processing times and that it would create excessive queues for passengers. Those warnings were ignored, with EU citizens the ones delayed and disrupted. 

Passengers should not be made pay the price for the EU’s failed EES rollout. Ryanair calls on the EU Commission to urgently extend the EES derogation until at least Apr 2027, so that airports and border authorities have the time needed to fix malfunctioning kiosks, increase staffing levels and ensure the system can operate efficiently before full enforcement is introduced and passenger are condemned to these excessive border control delays for another season.”