Easyjet leaves 100 behind in border check queues

Easyjet leaves 100 stranded at Milan airport due to border delays

Approximately 100 travelers found themselves stranded at Milan’s Linate airport after an Easyjet flight to Manchester departed without them. The incident occurred on Sunday, with passengers encountering delays of up to three hours at border control checkpoints. The situation led to frustration as individuals reported feeling unwell from the heat and uncertainty about their onward travel.

Passengers face long waits and unexpected costs

One affected traveler, Kiera, 17, from Oldham, shared her experience with the BBC. “We arrived at seven-thirty for an eleven o’clock flight and were very early,” she explained. “At the front of the queue, someone asked if we were heading to Manchester and confirmed our flight had already left.” Kiera noted that only around 30 people managed to board, while the rest were left waiting. She added that her family had to book a new flight to Gatwick, incurring additional expenses of about £520 for last-minute tickets.

“We won’t be able to buy even a sandwich at the airport for that amount,” Kiera said, highlighting the financial strain caused by the delay.

Adam Lomas, 33, an accountant from Wakefield, described the ordeal with his wife Katy, 31, and their four-month-old daughter. “We’ve been sitting at the airport for hours,” he recounted. “Some people tried contacting Easyjet, but the chatbots and audio issues made communication difficult. They eventually hung up after five to ten minutes.” Lomas mentioned the family had to find alternative accommodation, planning to take a flight to London and then a train back to Manchester. “We limited our movements to protect the baby,” he said, “but it became clear nothing was being done to resolve the issue.”

Easyjet defends its role amid EESS implementation

Easyjet acknowledged the delays, attributing them to the new European Entry / Exit System (EESS), which was introduced in October last year. A spokesperson stated: “We advised customers to allow extra time at the airport due to passport control waits.” The airline also provided free transfers for those who missed their flight, including EJU5420 to Manchester.

“We continue to urge border authorities to utilise available flexibilities to avoid these unacceptable delays,” the spokesperson added.

The UK government recently updated guidance for travelers to the Schengen area, stating that biometric data such as fingerprints and photos might be required upon arrival. It clarified that no prior action was needed before reaching the border and that there were no costs associated with EES registration. However, the system has caused longer processing times for passengers, prompting warnings to expect extended waits.