Tourexpi
Ryanair is calling on the German government to
temporarily suspend the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) until September, citing
growing concerns over long waiting times and operational disruptions at
airports. The airline argues that a delay would help prevent passengers,
including many families, from facing extended queues during the busy summer
travel period.
Delays and system readiness concerns
Although the introduction of the EES had been
scheduled for April 10, 2026 for more than three years, Ryanair says German
authorities have not sufficiently prepared for its implementation. According to
the airline, shortages in staffing, limited system readiness and an
insufficient number of control kiosks are already leading to significant delays
at passport control.
At airports such as Berlin, Cologne and Hahn, waiting
times are reported to reach between one and two hours. In some cases,
passengers have missed their flights as a result of these disruptions.
Comparison with other EU countries
Ryanair points to alternative approaches within the
European Union, highlighting Greece as an example. There, the government has
postponed the implementation of the EES until September in order to better
manage passenger flows during the peak travel season.
The airline has written to governments across all 29
EES countries, including German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, urging
them to follow a similar approach and ensure smoother airport operations in the
coming months.
Call for temporary suspension
“Governments across Europe are attempting to introduce
an untested IT system in the middle of the busiest travel period of the year,
and passengers are paying the price by facing hours-long queues at passport
control and, in some cases, missing their flights.
The solution is simple and already provided for in EU
law (EU Regulation 2025/1534): Governments should suspend the EES until
September, after the peak summer travel season, as Greece has already done.
This would allow passengers, many of whom are travelling with young families,
to begin their summer holidays in a more relaxed and seamless way,” said Neal
McMahon, Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer.
Focus on smoother summer travel
Ryanair argues that postponing the rollout would
reduce congestion, improve passenger experience and allow authorities
additional time to ensure systems and staffing are fully operational.
With summer travel volumes expected to remain high,
the airline is urging policymakers to prioritise stability and reliability at
airports during the peak season.
Image Credit: © Ryanair
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