The boss of Ryanair has savaged the new European Union EES entry/exit system. From Friday, April 10, Europe’s airports and airlines have seen the roll out of the Schengen Entry-Exit System (EES).

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, and Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E said: “Passengers entering the Schengen area are likely to wait even longer at border control during Easter due to the persisting operational challenges around the EES roll out.”

But Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary has slammed the new border controls. He claimed that the European Union is punishing Britain for Brexit with travel chaos at airports.

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Speaking about the EU’s Entry Exit System, O’Leary branded the rollout “a s*** show and a shambles” that has created considerable chaos at border crossings.

He told the Times: “There’s a bit of Brexit in this too. Here, you voted for Brexit – f*****g join the queue.”

While not limited to Spain, it is feared the EES will have a big impact on the European Union holiday hotspot given it tops the rankings for Brit tourism.

ACI EUROPE and A4E leaders said: “We reiterate our call on the European Commission and Member States to extend the possibility to fully or partially suspend EES – where operationally necessary – during the entirety of the 2026 summer season.

“This flexibility has proven vital in preventing catastrophic operational disruptions during the progressive roll out of the system.

“If the technical and operational issues with EES are not resolved, this flexibility should remain available during future peak travel periods, such as winter 2026/2027.”

Palma Airport, one of the most popular in Spain, explains: “The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new computerised system designed to monitor the external borders of the Schengen Area.

“It keeps track of entries and exits of non-EU nationals who come to visit Mallorca and other EU regions for a short period of time.

“When you cross a participating border, your passport details and biometric information (such as facial image and fingerprints) will be recorded electronically.

“This replaces manual passport stamping for travellers from non-EU countries like the UK and many others.”