Ryanair has urged 29 European countries, including France, to suspend the recently launched Entry/Exit System (EES) border checks until September. The request aims to prevent long queues during peak summer travel.

The EES, fully operational since April 10, requires travelers from the UK and other non-EU nations to provide fingerprints and photographs at EU airports and borders. Ryanair’s letter targets officials in each affected country, such as France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

Ryanair Highlights Queue Issues

Neal McMahon, Ryanair’s chief operations officer, stated: “Governments across Europe are attempting to roll out a half-baked IT system in the middle of the busiest travel season of the year, and passengers are paying the price, being forced to endure hours-long passport control queues and in some cases, missing flights.”

He added: “The solution is simple and already provided for under EU law (EU Reg. 2025/1534) – governments should suspend EES until September, when the peak summer travel season has subsided, just as Greece has done. This would allow passengers – many of whom are travelling with young families – a smoother airport experience for their summer holidays.”

Ryanair reports queue times of one to two hours, and longer in some instances, at popular UK tourist spots like Beauvais, Marseille, and Nantes. The airline criticizes French authorities for inadequate staffing, system readiness, and kiosk availability despite three years of preparation.

Greece Leads with Suspension

Greece recently exempted UK citizens from EES requirements to avoid disruptions during summer peaks. Eleni Skarveli, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, noted the decision ensures “a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece” and reduces waiting times. The change benefits thousands of daily UK arrivals at islands like Corfu, Crete, and Rhodes.

What is the EES System?

The EES is a digital border control replacing physical passport stamps across the EU. Non-EU passport holders, including UK citizens, must register passport details and biometrics—fingerprints and facial scans—on their first entry.

Travelers use self-service kiosks for initial registration. Data stores entry/exit details for future visits, which then require only biometric verification to speed processing. Officials also check accommodation, funds, insurance, and return tickets.

Children under 12 skip fingerprints but need facial scans. All non-EU visitors face these checks.