Ryanair has cautioned British families to get ready for long passport lines and delays at airports because of the EU’s new automated border control system.

The low-cost airline mentioned that the new Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces physical passport stamps with a digital record for travelers, has caused ongoing disruptions since it became fully operational on April 10.

According to Ryanair, fifteen specific destinations are now experiencing significant delays due to slow processing times and extended passport control queues on both incoming and outgoing flights.

With schools breaking for summer and passenger numbers peaking, Ryanair highlighted that the flawed EES implementation will lead to unnecessary delays and long queues for UK families.

Months after the EES launch, many airports still lack fully functional self-service kiosks, while border staffing levels and infrastructure are inadequate to handle peak passenger traffic, resulting in avoidable delays and added stress for UK travelers during the busiest holiday season.

Ryanair advised UK travelers heading to or transiting through non-Schengen destinations in Europe to be prepared for extended wait times at passport control, as the new EES checks may involve passport scanning, fingerprint capture, and facial image verification.

The airline expressed support for urgent extensions of the current EES flexibilities until early 2027, allowing airports more time to address issues with kiosks, increase staff numbers, and ensure a smooth system operation before full enforcement.

Neal McMahon, Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, emphasized that families planning summer vacations should not have to endure long passport queues due to a malfunctioning system, urging EU Member States to extend EES flexibilities for smoother travel experiences.

Ryanair identified 15 locations where passengers are encountering substantial delays due to slow processing times and excessive passport control queues, labeling them as recurring EES hotspots.