Ryanair has demanded that the Portuguese government “urgently” solve an urgent staff issues at airports across the country that have led nearly 300 passengers to miss their flights.
Europe’s largest budget airline said those who managed to fly, including many traveling with young children, are left to endure delays of up to two and a half hours.
The problems are “completely unacceptable,” Ryanair said.
Continuous lack of border control at Faro, Lisbon and Porto airports is blamed for the issue, leading to ‘excessive’ ropes.
The carrier said “urgent action” is needed, especially during the peak of the morning.
It is alleged that 270 passengers missed their flights during the two weeks period from 26 May to 9 June.
Neal McMahon, Ryanair Coo, has criticized Portugal airport operator Ana airports for the chaos.
He blamed it that he failed to ensure that “sufficient staff is in place to manage border control”.
Lisbon’s airport (pictured) is one of the three most important aviation buttons in Portugal that saw missed flights and delays
British travelers faced ropes at Faro International Airport earlier this month when they started using e-gates
Ryanair’s COO warned that problems would only increase during the summer if not handled
He added: “It’s not good enough, and the problem will only worsen as we go further in the summer season and the traffic numbers increase.”
Earlier this month, Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz tried to reassure tourists and promised that problems around border control would be ‘resolved within two weeks’, according to the mirror.
Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of airline compensation specialists, Skyrefund, warns that those caught up in the problems can apply according to the Rules of the European Union.
‘If serious delays in the border control at the most important airports of Portugal are missed, the aviation passengers may be entitled to compensation or recharge under EU regulation 261/2004, especially if the airline could reduce the disruption.
However, he added that it was a ‘gray area’.
‘Airlines are not expected to pay compensation as a delay or a missed flight due to factors beyond their control, such as political instability, extreme weather or airport strikes (which include border control issues not managed by the airline).
‘But if the airline could reasonably provide the disruption, for example repeated boundary delays and failed to act, it was known that courts sometimes ruled in favor of the passenger.
‘For example, they could argue that the airline had to allow more time for safety and border procedures or better coordinated.
Those affected by cancellations or delays may be in line for compensation, says one expert (in the photo: Porto’s Francisco says Carneiro Airport)
In a two-week period, nearly 300 passengers missed their flights of Portugal-which Ryanair blamed for issues on border control staff
“Either way, passengers have the right to care for and discuss again.”
Vinci airports, which operate the three airports under its subsidiary Ana Aeroportos de Portugal, were contacted for comment.
British tourists started using e-gates at Faro Airport After an agreement has been concluded to the British government.
Since Brexit, Britons arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to stand in line for manned desks to make their passports stamped, rather than using automatic gate with facial recognition technology – waiting for long, especially during peak periods.
Portuguese airport began implementing e-holes access to British arrivals after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed an agreement with EU leaders last month.
This hopes that the agreement “legal barriers to the use of e-gates for British citizens” will smooth as soon as a new stamp-free biometric entry/exit system (EES) will be launched in October.
