Ryanair May Cancel Flights to Malta: The Reason Is Border Control Delays Caused by the EES System

Airport delays are on the rise across Europe due to the EES system, and Ryanair is threatening to cancel flights to Malta. Find out what’s happening, what the risks are for travelers, and how to prepare for your trip

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Irish airline Ryanair has warned of possible flight cancellations or rerouting to Malta due to delays at border control. The issues arose following the full launch of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES). This was reported by the Times of Malta.

Why is Ryanair threatening to change routes?

David O’Brien, CEO of Ryanair’s Maltese subsidiary Ryanair Malta Air, stated that the company has already appealed to the Maltese government to step up border control operations ahead of the summer season. According to him, if delays and passenger congestion continue to increase, the airline will be forced to redirect passenger traffic to other Mediterranean destinations.

“If we face significant delays, we will have to redirect passengers from Malta to other destinations,” O’Brien emphasized.

At the same time, he clarified that no critical delays have been recorded in Malta specifically at this time, but the situation is causing concern ahead of the peak tourist season.

Currently, passengers can expect to wait up to 40 minutes at border control. The main reason is the implementation of the EES system, which requires mandatory registration of personal and biometric data for citizens of non-EU countries. This particularly affects tourists from the UK, who make up the largest share of Malta’s passengers. According to eyewitnesses, delays can occur even before reaching the checkpoint—for example, passengers on one flight waited 20 minutes on a bus on the runway due to overcrowding at passport control.

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How are airlines and authorities responding?

David Curmi, CEO of the national carrier KM Malta, expressed a similar view. He also appealed to the government to resolve the issue of delays. Both top executives support the idea of temporarily suspending the EES system during peak periods to avoid a transportation collapse this summer.

At the same time, Alan Borg, CEO of Malta International Airport, assured that the infrastructure has already been partially modernized:

● a new Schengen corridor has been created;

● the number of passport control points has been increased;

● a system for informing airlines about real-time congestion has been introduced.

However, he acknowledged that the main challenge is to reduce passenger processing times during the summer, when tourist traffic traditionally increases.

Delays due to the EES are not limited to Malta. Similar situations have already been observed at airports in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Greece. According to Ryanair representatives, Europe as a whole was not ready for the full launch of the new system.

Potential route changes may affect the availability of flights to Malta in the coming months.

Additionally, even without flight cancellations, passengers should account for possible delays during security screening. To avoid stress while traveling, it’s worth planning logistics in advance and having alternative route options. For example, through Visit Ukraine, you can conveniently book tickets for various modes of transport—this will help you quickly adjust your itinerary in case of changes or delays.

We remind you! The fuel crisis is dealing an unprecedented blow to European air travel. Germany’s Lufthansa is drastically cutting its schedule, canceling 20,000 flights due to record-high kerosene prices. This will lead to higher flight costs. Read which routes will be affected the most and what passengers should do.

Photo: onlyyouqj / Freepik

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