Ryanair says flights will leave without late passengers

Ryanair will not delay flights for passengers who miss boarding due to lengthy passport queues at European airports, the airline's chief executive has warned. Michael O'Leary issued the stark policy statement on July 24, 2026, as travelers continue to face significant delays following the full implementation of the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) in April.

O'Leary said the responsibility lies with passengers to arrive at the boarding gate on time, regardless of delays caused by new biometric border checks. He stated that if a flight has finished boarding and passengers are not present, the aircraft will depart without them. The airline's priority, he explained, is to passengers who are at the gate when boarding commences.

The EES, a digital border system requiring fingerprint and facial image checks for non-EU citizens, has led to queues of up to three hours at airports within the Schengen Area since it took full effect. Hundreds of travelers across multiple airlines, including Ryanair, have reportedly missed their flights since April after being caught in extreme delays at passport control. Stranded passengers have faced substantial additional costs for replacement...