Ryanair has warned the Maltese government it may redirect flights from the island if border check delays do not improve over the summer season. The airline's subsidiary, Malta Air, has expressed concern about the new entry/exit system (EES) causing congestion and delays at Luqa Airport.

David O'Brien, CEO of Malta Air, told the Times of Malta that he wrote a letter to Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri highlighting the need for faster processing times, as a bigger-than-usual influx of passengers is expected during this period. Travellers are currently waiting up to 40 minutes at border checks due to the EES, which affects all non-EU travellers, including those from the UK – Malta's largest market.

Passengers on flights from the UK have reported waiting times of up to 20 minutes on airport tarmac buses. The airline has not experienced significant delays yet but is concerned about how the system will operate as Malta heads towards its busy summer season. Ryanair carried more than half of all passengers who flew in or out of Malta last year, making it a key player in the island's aviation industry.

Industry leaders are calling for a temporary suspension of the EES to avoid major disruptions during peak periods. David Curmi, executive chairman of national airline KM Malta, has also raised concerns about delays with authorities and is expecting a bigger-than-usual influx of passengers this summer.

In comments to the Times, Malta International Airport (MIA) CEO Alan Borg acknowledged the frustration caused by the new system and said the airport was working closely with the police to improve processing times. Tourism Minister Ian Borg stated that the government is in daily talks with the European Commission and EU partners about the matter, but has ruled out postponing the full system implementation at this stage.

The Maltese government is focused on improving operations and may engage more workers or transfer existing staff to ensure a smoother EES operation over the summer months. Ryanair's David O'Brien said that if delays persist, "we'd have to redirect capacity away from Malta to other destinations" – a move that would be unwelcome for an airline carrying half of all passengers who flew in and out of Malta last year.

Airports in several European countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Greece, have also reported delays due to the EES. O'Brien described Europe as "utterly unprepared" for the new system, but noted that Ryanair has not yet experienced significant delays at Luqa Airport. The airline's concerns are echoed by industry leaders who believe a temporary suspension of the EES would help avoid major disruptions during peak periods.

The Maltese government is working to address the issue, with Tourism Minister Ian Borg stating that he is in regular contact with his counterpart in the UK and daily talks with the European Commission. However, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will be enough to alleviate the congestion caused by the EES at Luqa Airport over the summer months.