Key takeaways

  • Ryanair wants the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) delayed until September 2026
  • Airline says the system isn't ready for peak summer school-holiday travel
  • Ryanair claims European governments have not responded to previous appeals
  • Passengers on non-Schengen flights told to arrive earlier due to possible delays

Ryanair has again asked European governments to postpone the rollout of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) until September, arguing the technology is not ready to handle the surge of summer holiday travellers. The airline made the appeal in a press release issued on 2 June, warning of a possible “travel nightmare” once school holidays begin across Europe.

What the EES Means for Travellers Through Portuguese Airports

The EES is a new EU-wide digital border system that registers non-EU nationals’ entry and exit from the Schengen Area using fingerprints and facial scans, replacing the traditional passport stamp. For foreign residents in Portugal who are not EU citizens, as well as visiting family and friends from outside the bloc, this means extra processing time at airports such as Lisbon, Porto and Faro during the initial registration.

Because the system requires biometric enrolment the first time a traveller uses it, border queues are widely expected to lengthen, particularly at busy hub airports during peak departure and arrival periods.

Ryanair’s Repeated Warnings to Governments

According to the airline, this is not the first time it has urged European governments to delay the EES; previous appeals have gone unanswered, Ryanair says. Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon argued that the system is incomplete and that passengers, including families travelling with children and elderly relatives, should not be treated as “guinea pigs” for its rollout.

Ryanair is proposing that implementation be pushed back until September, once the peak of summer holiday travel following the end of the school year has eased.

Practical Advice for Passengers Flying Outside Schengen

Despite its objections, Ryanair is not waiting for a policy change and is instead advising passengers on flights outside the Schengen Area to arrive at airports earlier than usual. The airline cites the likelihood of longer waits at border control as the EES is phased in.

For foreign residents in Portugal planning trips to non-Schengen destinations, or expecting visitors arriving from outside the bloc, this is a useful reminder to build extra time into airport arrivals this summer, regardless of whether the EU ultimately grants Ryanair’s requested delay.