Ryanair Blames Police as New EU Biometric System Causes Malaga Airport Chaos

The phased introduction of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) has caused significant disruption. This chaos hit Spanish airports during the busy Christmas travel period. Non-Schengen travelers, including those from Ireland and Britain, faced severe delays. The EES system replaces manual passport stamping. It uses biometric data like fingerprints and facial scans. This new digital registration is mandatory for third-country nationals.

Operational Disruption at Malaga-Costa del Sol

Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) emerged as a major hotspot for the delays. Passengers reported extensive queues lasting up to two hours or more. Many holidaymakers missed their flights as a direct result. The festive season represents one of the busiest times for the Costa del Sol. The EES began its gradual rollout across the EU in October 2025. Full implementation is expected by April 2026.

Reports from the airport cited several operational issues. These included a shortage of border control officers. Passengers also noted malfunctioning or unused biometric kiosks. This forced many checks to be processed manually.

Airline and Authority Conflict

Low-cost carrier Ryanair issued an urgent alert to its customers. The airline advised passengers departing Spanish airports to arrive with extra time. Ryanair specifically recommended proceeding swiftly to border control after baggage drop.

The airline openly attributed the delays to the Spanish National Police. Ryanair claimed the police were “insufficiently prepared” for the EES rollout. They called on Spanish authorities to urgently resolve the situation.

The Spanish National Police responded to the accusation. They countered that queue management is the responsibility of Aena, the Spanish airports authority. A police spokesperson stated that the airline’s explanations were “incorrect.” This created a public dispute over accountability.

Industry-Wide Warnings

European airport trade body ACI Europe had previously warned of the risks. The organization noted that border control processing times could increase significantly. Wait times of up to three hours were predicted during peak periods. The initial biometric registration process is more time-consuming. This is especially true during the system's trial phase.

Impact on Aviation and Travel

The EES implementation highlights the post-Brexit reality for British and Irish travelers. They are now classified as third-country nationals at Schengen borders. This subjects them to the new biometric checks. The delays pose a serious challenge for aviation operations. They risk missed connections and flight schedule disruption.

• Risk: Prolonged delays could lead to passenger compensation claims (EU261).
• Challenge: The uneven deployment threatens traveler confidence in the digital border system.
• Opportunity: Full EES stability promises faster, more secure border processing in the long term.

Industry stakeholders are urging the Spanish Interior Ministry to review staffing levels. They also seek to address hardware issues before the system scales up. For the latest commercial aviation news and updates on border technology, visit flying.flights. The new system aims to modernize border management. It seeks to prevent overstays and enhance security across the 29-country Schengen Area.