What happened
A flight operated by Ryanair from Lanzarote to Bristol (FR4756) departed with many empty seats after at least 89 passengers were unable to clear passport control in time.
The delays occurred at Lanzarote Airport in the non-EU passport lines.
The airline reportedly held the flight for about an hour, then removed the checked luggage of passengers still stuck in queues and departed.
The aircraft arrived in Bristol about 50 minutes late, despite leaving many passengers behind.
Why the delays likely happened
Local reports point to two main factors:
Staff shortages at passport control
Authorities have already warned of repeated congestion due to insufficient staffing.
Preparation for the new EU biometric border system
There are indications the delays could be linked to testing for the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) being introduced by the European Union, which will register biometric data for non-EU travellers.
The president of the local Chamber of Commerce, José Valle, previously warned that the airport could face “serious collapses” when the system fully launches due to technical and staffing constraints.
Ryanair’s position
The airline stated that:
The passengers missed the flight because they did not reach the boarding gate before it closed, even though the delay was caused by border queues.
The flight was already held for an extended period.
This reflects standard airline policy: airlines usually consider border control delays outside their operational responsibility.
Passenger rights (important)
Because the delay occurred before security/boarding, compensation under UK/EU air passenger rules is not automatic. However:
Airlines often rebook affected passengers on the next available flight.
Travel insurance may cover additional costs.
If passengers can show they arrived at the airport with sufficient time but delays were exceptional, they may still attempt a claim (though success varies).
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