Overview
- A Ryanair flight from Athens to London Luton left without an estimated 20 to 50 passengers on Sunday after they failed to clear passport control in time because of long queues at departures.
- Ryanair said the missed passengers were delayed by border control, and Athens International Airport said high volumes and "additional processing requirements" produced periods of congestion at passport control.
- The EU Entry/Exit System replaces manual passport stamping with mandatory biometric registration of fingerprints and a facial photo for non-EU travellers, a change that adds steps at kiosks and booths on first entry to the Schengen area.
- Frontex has warned the EES could take up to two years to fully stabilise and Greece confirmed it will press ahead with full implementation this summer, while ABTA and other industry groups are urging stronger peak‑period plans.
- Passengers reported hours-long queues, distress and missed flights, and airlines and airports may need extra staff, revised queuing processes, or contingency arrangements to prevent further disruption and protect travellers.