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Passport 'mega queue' strands Ryanair passengers in Greece
TL;DR
Ryanair passengers were left behind in Greece due to passport control delays, with 20 to 50 missing their flight to London. This incident follows the implementation of the EU's Entry Exit System, which has caused congestion at airports.
Key points
- Ryanair passengers stranded in Greece due to passport control delays
- Flight from Athens to London left without 20 to 50 passengers
- Incident linked to EU's Entry Exit System implementation
- Airport congestion attributed to additional processing requirements
- Greek minister assured no biometric checks for British travelers
Mentioned in this story
RyanairGreeceLondonAthens International AirportOlga Kefalogianni
Ryanair passengers were stranded in Greece after their UK-bound flight left without them as airports grapple with passport control delays.
The flight from Athens International Airport to London Luton on Sunday reportedly left without 20 to 50 passengers, some of whom became visibly angry, prompting airport authorities to step in, the BBC has been told.
It is the latest incident since the EU's Entry Exit System (EES) was brought in to track when non-EU citizens enter or leave the Schengen free movement area.
Ryanair blamed border delays, while the airport said it had been experiencing congestion linked to "additional processing requirements", though neither directly said EES was responsible.
In April, Greek tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni promised British passengers would not face biometric checks or be "burdened" by bureaucracy when travelling to Greece this summer.
But the situation is unclear after the Greek Foreign Ministry later disputed that any exemption existed.
Milo Boyd, a Daily Mirror travel writer who managed to board Sunday's Ryanair flight to Luton, said he had not had his fingerprints scanned or his photo taken on entry or exit at Athens.
He told the BBC there had been a "mega queue" of several hundred people at both security and passport control amid stifling temperatures.
He and his wife made it through 10 minutes before the gate closed, but he said at least 20 others had arrived too late.
"These poor people were pleading with the Ryanair staff to let them through - one guy was crying, another guy looked like he was about to explode," Boyd said.
Boyd said people stuck on the other side of the gate were shouting "you can't do this" and "this is your stupid airport's fault, how can you not let us on?"
As frustration grew, airport authorities stepped in "to maintain orderly operations" after "a number of passengers expressed their dissatisfaction", the airport told the BBC.
A spokesperson said there had been "periods of congestion at passport control in the departures area due to high passenger volumes and the additional processing requirements associated with travel to non-Schengen destinations".
They added: "As is currently the case at many European airports, passenger flows on certain routes may experience increased processing times as new border-control procedures continue to be implemented and refined."
Ian Collins tweeted Ryanair to say it was "utterly disgraceful you left my daughter (and half your passengers) at the gate in Athens today".
Q&A
What caused the Ryanair flight delays in Greece?
The delays were caused by passport control issues linked to congestion at the airport, reportedly exacerbated by the EU's Entry Exit System.
How many Ryanair passengers were stranded in Greece?
Between 20 to 50 Ryanair passengers were stranded after their flight from Athens to London left without them.
What is the EU's Entry Exit System (EES)?
The EU's Entry Exit System is designed to track non-EU citizens entering and leaving the Schengen area, which has contributed to increased processing times at airports.
What did the Greek tourism minister promise regarding travel for British passengers?
Greek tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni promised that British passengers would not face biometric checks or be burdened by bureaucracy when traveling to Greece this summer.
