On April 20, 2026, chaos erupted at Milan Bergamo Airport as travelers faced unprecedented delays due to the new Entry/Exit System (EES). Passengers—caught in long lines—watched helplessly as their flights departed without them. For many, this wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a missed opportunity, a disrupted journey. Ryanair confirmed that numerous travelers missed their flights because of these passport control delays.
The EES, which had become fully operational just ten days earlier, requires non-EU citizens to register biometric information upon arrival. This includes scanning passports, providing fingerprints, and having facial images taken. What was designed to streamline the entry process instead became a bottleneck. On April 16, a group of travelers missed their flight from Milan to Manchester—caught up in the lengthy queues at passport control.
Stranded passengers weren’t just limited to those in Bergamo. Reports indicated that approximately 122 people faced similar issues at Milan Linate Airport. The frustration was palpable—some were left waiting for hours, uncertain of when they might finally get through. Ryanair advised its customers to arrive early at busy airports, a precaution that now seems insufficient given the scale of the delays.
According to Ryanair, “Due to passport control delays at Milan Bergamo Airport on 16 April, a number of passengers missed this flight from Milan to Manchester.” The airline’s warnings came too late for many who found themselves scrambling for alternate arrangements or simply stuck with nowhere to go.
The EES system was intended to replace manual passport stamping and track visa-free limits more effectively. Yet, as countries like Greece paused their rollout due to considerable delays, it raises questions about the efficacy of such systems across the Schengen Area—which includes 27 countries excluding the UK and Cyprus.
As travelers navigate this new reality, they are left wondering how long these delays will persist. While EES registration is free and lasts for three years before re-registration is needed, the initial implementation has been rocky. And with each passing day, more stories of stranded passengers emerge—each one a reminder of the human cost behind bureaucratic changes.
So what’s next? The uncertainty looms large. Will other airports experience similar disruptions? Will improvements be made swiftly enough to restore confidence in air travel? Details remain unconfirmed as authorities scramble to address these growing concerns.
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