Transportation

Ryanair criticizes passport kiosk failures as enforcement relief ends

Dzmitry - stock.adobe.com

September 9, 2026

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Ryanair has blamed malfunctioning passport kiosks and inadequate staffing for lengthy border-control lines at several European airports as temporary relief from full enforcement of the European Union's Entry/Exit System expires, according to a PYOK News report. The airline has urged European officials to extend the flexibility period until April 2027, warning that travelers could face renewed delays and missed flights.

The biometric system digitally records the arrival and departure of non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area for short stays. Passengers with biometric passports may use self-service kiosks to scan their documents and provide fingerprints and facial images, replacing the traditional passport-stamping process. The checks have increased processing times, with some airports reporting waits of several hours during the summer.

European countries had been permitted to suspend or reduce biometric checks when lines became unmanageable, but that flexibility ended in early September. Ryanair said airports in Spain, Italy, Poland and France were among those struggling with insufficient staff, malfunctioning kiosks and other technical problems. European officials maintain that the system will strengthen border security and make it easier to identify travelers who overstay their permitted visits.