Ryanair has called for the suspension of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) until September, citing long queues at Portuguese airports and warning of the potential impact on passengers during the peak of the summer travel season.
The airline, Europe’s largest carrier, on Thursday, 30th April, urged the Portuguese Government to suspend the implementation of the European Union’s passport control Entry/Exit System until September, arguing that the measure is necessary to ensure passengers, many travelling on family holidays in large groups, are not subjected to excessive waiting times at passport control during the peak summer period.
“Despite having known for more than three years that the EES would become fully operational from 10th April 2026, the Portuguese authorities have failed to ensure adequate staffing levels, system preparedness or the installation of kiosks,” the Irish low-cost carrier said in a statement sent to newsrooms.
“As a result, passengers are facing long queues at passport control and, in some cases, missing flights. Waiting times have already exceeded one to two hours at Faro, Funchal, and Porto airports, where staff shortages and system failures continue to cause unnecessary disruption for passengers,” the airline added.
Meanwhile, “other European Union countries are adopting a more pragmatic approach, such as Greece, where the government has suspended the EES until September in order to manage queues during the peak summer season”.
Ryanair also said it had written to the governments of the 29 countries covered by the EES, including minister Luís Neves, calling for the system to be suspended until September, following Greece’s example, in order to ensure the smooth operation of airports throughout this summer.
Ryanair’s Chief Operating Officer, Neal McMahon, said that “governments across Europe are attempting to roll out an incomplete IT system in the middle of the busiest travel period of the year, and passengers are paying the price, being forced to endure passport control queues lasting several hours and, in some cases, missing flights”.
“The solution is straightforward and already provided for under European legislation (EU Regulation 2025/1534), governments should suspend the EES until September, once the peak summer travel season has passed, as Greece has done. This would allow passengers, many of whom are travelling with families and children, to enjoy a smoother airport experience during their summer holidays,” he concluded.
Source: Ryanair
