More than 20 passengers missed a Ryanair flight between Athens and London Luton after facing long queues at passport control at Athens International Airport. The episode occurred last weekend and once again exposed the constraints in border control procedures on flights outside the Schengen area.
According to the specialized aviation portal, delays in accessing the boarding gates resulted in significant congestion in the control area, leading to the plane departing around an hour later than scheduled, without the luggage of passengers who were unable to board.
Queues, heat and doors that closed
The queues at Athens airport were mainly concentrated at passport controls required for destinations outside the Schengen area. According to the same source, many passengers faced prolonged waits in crowded areas and temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, which worsened the pressure in the area.
Some travelers were still able to reach the boarding gate a few minutes before closing, but a significant number were unable to complete security and immigration procedures in a timely manner.
Pressure on boarding and intervention by authorities
According to the same source, the situation generated moments of tension at the boarding gates, with passengers putting pressure on airline employees after the gate closed. Airport authorities were eventually called in to help control the flow of people.
Athens airport acknowledged periods of increased congestion, explaining that high passenger volumes and additional controls for destinations outside the Schengen area contributed to the delays.
Impact of the new European system
The incident arises in a context of adaptation to the European Union Entry/Exit System, known as EES, which provides for the collection of biometric data from travelers from third countries. The website explains that, although there is the possibility of temporarily suspending collection in the event of excessive queues, there are still constraints at several airports.
Travelers to destinations such as the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland or United Arab Emirates pass through the same checkpoints, which increases pressure on immigration services.
Delays not limited to Athens
Similar cases have been reported at other European airports during periods of greater demand, including Portugal, namely at Lisbon and Faro airports. According to the same source, some airlines have warned of the need to reinforce resources at border controls to avoid similar situations.
Ryanair even called for a temporary suspension of the implementation of the EES over the summer, arguing that immigration delays are contributing to regular disruptions to departures, although without placing sole responsibility on the system.
Other carriers have been recommending that passengers traveling to destinations outside the Schengen area arrive at airports at least three hours in advance, a margin that, in practice, is becoming increasingly common.
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