Ryanair Points Finger at Faulty Passport Kiosks as EU Border Delays Return

Ryanair says broken passport kiosks are behind mounting delays at European borders, and the airline is now demanding the European Commission reinstate a temporary flexibility mechanism that lapsed this week, leaving border authorities without a formal way to ease congestion during peak periods.

The low-cost carrier is targeting the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES), the biometric border-control program that became fully operational at every external Schengen border point on April 10, 2026, replacing manual passport stamps for most non-EU nationals with digital records that include fingerprints and a facial scan. 

What Ryanair Is Saying

The airline argues that faulty hardware, not passenger volume alone, is a major driver of the disruption. Border authorities are "still trying to manage with malfunctioning kiosks, staffing shortages and processing delays," Ryanair said, adding that removing the derogation leaves member states with no flexibility to prevent further disruption during peak travel periods.

This summer, border-control delays reached two to three hours at locations including Kraków, Lisbon, Milan, and Rome, with wait times at some airports exceeding four hours at points during peak periods. Frankfurt and Amsterdam Schiphol recorded the longest measured peak queues in July 2026, at about 120 minutes each. Separately, Ryanair has warned U.S. travelers specifically about the risk of delays of up to three hours at seven European airports this fall, with some passengers reportedly missing flights entirely after long waits at the border.

How the Entry/Exit System Works

The EES replaces the traditional passport stamp for non-EU nationals traveling into the Schengen Area for short stays. Instead of a manual stamp, border officers or automated kiosks capture biometric data, including fingerprints and a facial image, and log the entry electronically. 

The resulting record can be reused for up to three years, meaning subsequent crossings should be faster once a traveler is already registered in the system. The system applies at airports, seaports, and land borders across the Schengen area's participating countries. In some countries, non-EU passport holders have been permitted to use e-gates to speed up processing after registering their biometrics; other governments have not yet opened e-gates to third-country nationals, forcing travelers into a second wait to see an immigration officer, which compounds delays where staffing is already stretched thin.

Where the Delays Are Hitting

Reports of long lines have surfaced at major hubs handling heavy transatlantic and UK traffic. British travelers, who lost their EU freedom of movement after Brexit, are among those most affected by the checks, since EES applies to any citizen of a country that isn't an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland – meaning it also covers travelers from the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Some airports have added extra kiosks and staff, but Ryanair says the underlying equipment remains unreliable. When a kiosk fails or rejects a fingerprint scan, passengers are often routed to manned booths, which can quickly become overwhelmed during peak arrival banks.

What Travelers Should Expect

If you are flying into Europe from outside the Schengen Area in the coming months, plan for longer waits at passport control, particularly on your first crossing, since initial biometric registration takes longer than a routine passport check. Arrive at your departure airport with extra time and be prepared to have your fingerprints and photo taken at the border.

There is no automatic right to compensation for border-control delays, since passport control is a government function rather than something airlines control. Ryanair's own guidance to passengers emphasizes that travelers are responsible for allowing enough time to clear passport control and recommends building in extra buffer time at airports where EES checks are in full effect.

Ryanair has not indicated whether it will seek compensation from airports or governments for flight disruptions linked to the border delays. The airline continues to press the European Commission for what it calls basic operational reliability at Europe's busiest gateways, with the fate of the lapsed derogation now the central point of dispute heading into the autumn travel season.