Passport Control Delays Strand Ryanair Passengers in Milan Airport Chaos
Several UK-bound Ryanair passengers were left stranded in Italy last week as ongoing passport control chaos continues to disrupt travel across Europe. Approximately 30 travellers scheduled to fly from Milan Bergamo Airport to Manchester on 16 April were not boarded onto their flight following significant delays at passport control.
EU Entry-Exit System Causes Widespread Disruption
Travellers heading to Europe have faced considerable disruption and confusion following the implementation of the European Union's new Entry-Exit System (EES). This system, which requires the input of biometric data for non-EU citizens including British nationals, has created long queues and serious teething problems since its planned full application across Schengen area frontiers began on 10 April.
A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed the incident in a statement, explaining: "Due to passport control delays at Milan Bergamo airport (16 April), a number of passengers missed this flight from Milan to Manchester. Should these passengers have presented at the boarding gate desk before it closed, they would have boarded this flight."
Passenger Accounts Describe 'Complete Chaos'
Adam Hassanjee, an 18-year-old from Bolton, described the scene at Milan Bergamo as "complete chaos" in an interview with BBC News. He reported waiting for an hour and a half without moving through the queue, only to watch his plane depart without him.
"Then we see the plane leave and got told we have to go and book our own flight back," Hassanjee said, highlighting the frustration experienced by many affected travellers.
Ryanair's Missed Departure Fee Policy
According to the airline, Ryanair passengers who miss their flights are offered the option of paying a £100 "missed departure fee" to be transferred to a new departure. The airline noted that once boarding closes, a legal report of the manifest—detailing onboard passengers and crew—is signed and sent to the captain, after which boarding cannot be reopened.
EasyJet Also Affected by EES Implementation
Ryanair is not alone in experiencing delays due to the enforcement of the EU Entry-Exit System this month. In a separate incident, a family travelling with easyJet was forced to spend £1,600 on a connecting flight via Luxembourg after their plane departed without them.
The Hume family from Leeds queued for nearly three hours at Milan Linate airport's passport control due to the chaotic enforcement of EES. Speaking to The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder, Mr Hume expressed feeling "gutted, upset, let down, absolutely shattered and poorer – much poorer."
Of the 156 passengers booked on easyJet flight 5420 to Manchester, only 34 managed to board, leaving 122 passengers stranded in Italy. EasyJet has apologised for the inconvenience and stated that stranded passengers will be offered free transfers to alternative flights.
The ongoing issues with the EU's Entry-Exit System highlight significant challenges in border management that continue to affect air travel across Europe, with multiple airlines and hundreds of passengers experiencing disruption during this transition period.
