Ryanair has complained about the chaos at airports caused by the EU's biometric screening system

Ryanair has warned of the risk of massive lines at European airports this summer due to the implementation of the new Electronic Entry and Exit System (EES). 

Europe’s largest airline has called on the European Commission to suspend the new border control system at least for July and August, as the infrastructure is not ready to handle peak summer traffic starting in mid-July.

 According to Ryanair, serious disruptions in the collection of biometric data have already been reported at seven airports in Spain, Italy, Poland, and France, where passengers from countriesoutside the EU are forced to undergo a lengthy fingerprint and facial recognition process. Industry associations Airlines for Europe and Airports Council International have supported the call and are insisting that the full implementation of the system be postponed until the summer of 2027.

In response to concerns from the aviation sector, the European Commission has invited industry representatives to an urgent meeting next Tuesday. European officials note that airports are permitted to temporarily suspend EES checks in July and August if they begin to cause excessively long lines. At the same time, managers at some airports, including Berlin’s, report that wait times for foreign travelers are already reaching two hours, leading to delays at security checkpoints and the departure of half-empty planes. The EES system itself, which took about 10 years to develop, was launched last October with the aim of strengthening border controls within the Schengen Area; however, the technology and logistics are currently undergoing testing during the peak travel season.

Source: The Guardian.