Key Takeaways:
- 150 passengers missed a Ryanair flight from Toulouse to London Stansted on May 30 due to massive queues at border control.
- The pilot reportedly announced the number of stranded passengers after boarding closed.
- The incident is linked to delays caused by the new Entry/Exit System (EES), which has been slowing processing times at European airports.
- This is not an isolated event: similar chaos stranded passengers in Milan in April.
Chaos at Toulouse Airport: A Scramble for the Gate
On May 30, travelers at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport experienced what one passenger described as "pure chaos."
A Ryanair flight bound for London Stansted took off without 150 passengers who were still stuck in long queues past security.
"You didn't join a queue, because there was no queue to join. There was just a scrummage of people," a passenger told The Connexion.
She added that around 400 to 500 travelers were bottlenecked in a disorganized crowd, making it impossible to reach the boarding gate on time.
Ryanair Defends Its Actions
Ryanair released a statement denying responsibility, saying the airline did not "leave passengers behind."
Instead, the airline stated that due to "delays caused by border control staff shortages at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on 30 May," those passengers simply did not reach the boarding gate before the flight closed.
"All passengers that were at the boarding gate when this flight... boarded were accommodated and travelled without incident," the statement read.
The EES Factor: New Border Rules Disrupt Travel
This incident is not an isolated mishap. It reflects a growing problem across European airports since the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES) on April 10.
The EES requires non-EU travelers, including UK citizens, to register biometric data — fingerprints and facial scans — upon entering the Schengen Area.
While designed to enhance security, the new checks have significantly slowed processing times, especially during peak travel periods.
- Milan Bergamo Airport saw a similar event on April 16, where a Ryanair flight to Manchester departed without around 30 passengers due to EES queues.
- One stranded passenger, Adam Hassanjee, told the BBC: "We were waiting for an hour and a half and weren't moving. Then we see the plane leave."
Note: The EES is expected to continue causing disruptions as airports adapt to the new procedures and summer travel demand soars.
What Travelers Can Do to Avoid Being Left Behind
For passengers flying from European airports, especially those outside the Schengen Area (like the UK), the new reality demands extra caution:
- Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before departure for international flights.
- Complete any available pre-registration for biometric checks offered by some airports.
- Monitor airport apps for real-time queue information.
- Head directly to the boarding gate immediately after security.
While airlines like Ryanair maintain that missing a flight is the passenger's responsibility, the chaos at border control suggests systemic issues that airports and border authorities need to address urgently.
Outlook: Will Summer Travel Get Worse?
With travel demand rising and the EES still in its early stages, more such incidents are likely.
Airports in France, Italy, and Spain have reported similar delays, prompting calls for better staffing and infrastructure. Until then, passengers are advised to factor in significant extra time for border procedures.
Stay updated with SchengenTracker for the latest on EES developments and travel disruptions across Europe.