Passengers' fury as planes are forced to fly 'almost empty' with people stranded in security queues and Ryanair boss 'jumping up and down' angry at the chaos 

• Travellers from outside Schengen free movement zone subjected to strict rules
• Instead of a few seconds, passport control process can now take several minutes
• Checks imposed on entry and exit, with some travellers missing flights as result 
• Issues follow introduction of EU rules tightening controls within Schengen area 
• Holidaymakers are unaware of the delays which have been ongoing since May
• New regime after it emerged that terrorists used EU passports for Paris attacks
• Have you been affected by the new EU border regulations? Call 0203 615 2676 or email richard.spillett@mailonline.co.uk

Anger over the plight of British holidaymakers stuck at European passport checks grew today as fresh stories emerged of missed flights and horrific waiting times.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary was the latest to express fury over delays caused by the EU's tighter checks on entering and leaving the Schengen zone.

O'Leary said he is 'jumping up and down' in frustration at the disruption, adding: 'Why are these new and more onerous passport restrictions on outbound flights?

'If people are leaving your country, what the hell is the problem? They're leaving. Why are you worried?' 

His comments came amid reports of planes taking off with passengers still waiting in queues and four-hour waits at passport control.

One Twitter user wrote yesterday: 'Hey! 22 people were not allowed on flight home from Barcelona airport yesterday afternoon. Plane left most empty. Security queue.'

British holidaymakers are also being warned of a weekend of hell at foreign borders, with up to 200,000 passengers expected to pass through Palma Airport in Majorca, where some of the longest queues have formed in recent weeks.

Aviation minister Lord Callanan said he would be speaking to his counterparts in Portugal, Spain and Italy to 'urge them to do all they can to reduce queues and allow travellers to get on with their holidays'.

He went on: 'Clearly it is right that other EU countries have appropriate border controls, but it is also in everyone's interests that tourists are able to start their holidays and spend money across Europe.'

Airlines UK, an industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said it had warned the Department for Transport about the problem in May, although they were told by ministers the issue had eased.

Tim Alderslade, the body's chief executive, said: 'Clearly the situation has changed markedly as we enter peak holiday season, and it is now up to the UK Government to work with industry to use whatever influence it can within the EU to persuade Schengen member states to resource their border operations properly.'

Simon Fletcher, 39, of south London, who flew back from Paris Orly on business today, was delayed for nearly two hours before he could board the flight.

He said: 'Our flight was delayed for about an hour and a half, otherwise we would have missed it.

'We were waiting for nearly two hours to go through passport checks.

'Normally going through passport controls in Europe is really quick and straightforward, but today the guy on the desk was looking at his computer for about ten minutes. I've never seen that before.

'There were no extra staff on, they knew it was going to be busy with these new checks in place, but no measures were taken to help.' 

People from outside the Schengen free movement zone are being subjected to stricter vetting at passport control drawn up by Brussels after it emerged that terrorists may have used EU passports for atrocities in Paris.

But airlines are urging airports to increase their number of border guards or reduce vetting procedures at the busiest times. 

Countries are not required to implement the new checks until October, prompting some to suggest they could lift the tighter restrictions during the busy summer holidays. 

Airlines UK, an industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said it had warned the Department for Transport (DfT) about the problem in May, although they were told by ministers the issue had eased.

Tim Alderslade, the body's chief executive, said: 'Clearly the situation has changed markedly as we enter peak holiday season, and it is now up to the UK Government to work with industry to use whatever influence it can within the EU to persuade Schengen Member States to resource their border operations properly.'

Airline bosses accuse airports of failing to recruit enough border officials to check passports thoroughly – or upgrade their computer systems in time for the holiday season.

They say queues of 'hundreds of metres' have been seen in some terminals. Passengers complain of being treated like cattle and being 'punished' by the EU. Britain is not one of the 26 members of the Schengen zone, which allows passport-free travel.

The worst affected airports include Palma de Mallorca, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris-Orly, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Milan and Brussels. The European Commission showed little sympathy yesterday, describing the holdups as 'the price for security'.

Calls for compensation for affected passengers

A Tory MP has called for passengers caught up in the long delays to be paid compensation by the EU.

Jacob Rees Mogg, MP for North East Somerset, told the Mail Online: 'It is a classic EU combination if incompetence and hypocrisy.

'Free movement of EU criminals into the UK but not for honest British holidaymakers.

'The EU always wants our 'quid'' but never returns the 'pro quo'.

'As the EU makes airlines compensate passengers for delays it would be honourable to apply the same law to itself.' 

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EU officials have, however, watered down the rules at ports and road borders – potentially allowing in terrorists. Guards can suspend systematic checking of EU passports at peak times where there might be a 'disproportionate impact on traffic flows'.

Last night a passenger tweeted from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam: 'Schengen passport control queue – four hours.'

Edward Vallory tweeted from Barcelona, where delays reached three hours: 'Endless queues for access to airport.' One passenger said a flight from Lisbon left while 20 passengers were still at passport control.

Hundreds of British holidaymakers endured an hour-long wait at Palma airport following a flight from Bristol.

The delay was caused by a shortage of airport border guards; just four officers had to process the passports of at least 215 passengers. Delays of up to two hours were reported at the weekend.

Connor Aston, who was flying from the airport on Monday, said: 'There were four guys standing in only one booth at passport control. I felt they were punishing the UK residents and had a very abrupt attitude.' 

Mr Aston was trying to get on an Easyjet flight to Belfast with his with partner, mother-in-law and children aged three, six and 12.

He waited around half an hour to get through controls, and added: 'It definitely looked as they were on a go slow.' 

Why is there chaos at passport control across Europe?

What is going on?

Queues at passport control are hardly a rarity. But airports are introducing tougher checks at immigration as a result of new EU legislation introduced following terror attacks in Brussels and Paris.

These checks take longer. Airlines say the problem is compounded by the fact that despite backing the plans, EU states have failed to set up more gates at passport control or hire more officers to man them.

Who is affected?

The checks affect anyone travelling into the border-free Schengen Area from countries not in the Schengen zone, including the UK and Ireland. They also apply to those flying out of a Schengen country to a non-Schengen one. Most EU member states are signed up to the Schengen agreement.

What do the checks entail?

Previously most Britons arriving at Palma, Majorca, for example, would have been waved through by the immigration officer after a quick look at your passport. Now, passport control has to carry out security checks against several databases including the Schengen Information System and Interpol's database of lost and stolen travel documents. This is done automatically by computers but takes up to two minutes a passenger, rather than seconds.

Can I use e-passport gates?

Yes, and these gates, where a machine scans a microchip in your passport, are likely to be significantly quicker. The problem is there aren't enough of them at many airports across the EU.

How long have EU countries had to prepare for this?

More than 18 months. The regulation – EU 2017/458 – was presented by the European Commission in December 2015. The EC says this means member states have had plenty of time to make the necessary preparations to ensure the checks are carried out as quickly as possible. But it also appears to have limited sympathy for passengers stuck in line, arguing this is the price they have to pay for extra security.

Will it get better?

In the near future, airlines have warned the delays could get worse. Member states were given a six-month period ending October 7 to introduce the changes. While countries like France, Italy, Spain and Belgium are already imposing the tougher checks, others including Austria and Denmark have yet to make the change.

With millions of people jetting off on their summer holidays, airlines are worried there could be more disruption to come over the next few weeks.

Isn't this all a convenient excuse for the airlines?

Some might say so. It is certainly easy for them to blame long queues at passport control for delays to flights.

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Jessica Williams was stuck at Palma Airport for more than two hours, with customers given no information as to what was going on.

Ms Williams told MailOnline: 'The only thing we got told was there was a 'situation' and that our flights wouldn't leave without us.

'We thought it was something to do with terrorism as they wouldn't tell us what was happening. Everyone was getting very annoyed as the air con wasn't on either.'

One passenger Nicki Gillon, 36, from Manchester, saw people fainting at Palma. She said: 'There were around 2,000 people waiting to go through immigration. People were collapsing, there was no air conditioning in the tunnel. It was just crazy.'

Paul Bower had to wait 90 minutes at Bergerac Airport after flying in from Bristol last Thursday. For much of that time, he and other passengers were standing on the tarmac next to a runway beneath a marquee.

He said: 'There were three booths open but only one was manned. It was definitely taking longer to check each passport.'

Dr Michael Bond said he had a similar experience during a recent trip to Bastia on Corsica, where he waited for an hour on the tarmac to get through passport control.

Dr Bond said: 'We used to zoom through passport control after getting off the aircraft. Not this time. The queue stretched from the tarmac where we landed. It was six people wide and there were two people manning the passport control.' 

A British tourist said of Paris-Orly: 'Just queued for 1.10hrs at passport control. Only two immigration officers. Departure now delayed waiting for people in the queue. Totally unacceptable.' 

The issue is also thought to have affected motorists using Dover to Calais ferries. Nigel Rumfitt had to wait an hour to get through controls at the Port of Calais yesterday. 

Mr Rumfitt said: 'The port was in chaos with a massive traffic jam at the entrance to the port and about ten lines of traffic funnelling into two lines to get through. We were early but it took an hour and we nearly missed our boat.

'There was no explanation of what was happening but this looks like a deliberate attempt to delay travellers to the UK. The officer to whom I complained blamed staff shortages.' 

Ruth Pishhorn was stuck in severe delays as she and her mother attempted to travel to from London Stansted to Palma Nova, Majorca, from July 17 until July 22. 

Ms Pishhorn told MailOnline: 'We have been to Majorca many times in the past few years and we have never experienced queues like it. 

'As soon as we got off the plane, we were ushered into the departure lounge and had to walk through the entire departure lounge to join a queue of hundreds of miserable Brits. 

'As for increased security, all of that was just to be met with two very miserable security guards who barely checked anyone's passport.

'Then going home the departures lounge was full to the brim of arrivals - the queues were so long that a queue formed from people walking to the queue. Chaos!' 

Manchester passengers breeze through border... if they pay £4

Passengers can now buy a ticket to cut the queues at Manchester Airport passport control.

Bosses are introducing a 'fast-track' lane in arrivals from this morning, with 'introductory' £4 tickets now on sale.

Travellers who buy them online ahead of travel are guaranteed to pass through customs within or around 15 minutes - while their fellow passengers wait in line.

Other airports already offer the service, charging up to £10 for the privilege.

It's not yet clear how long the introductory rate will last, or how much the price will go up by.

Current targets for Border Force - which runs immigration - are for EU passengers to wait no longer than 25 minutes. The non-EU limit is 45 minutes. 

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British tourists have complained of massive delays on Twitter, with one traveller fuming: ' @Malaga__Airport I've been to many airports. Never have I had to stand in queue this long for passport control #appalling'. 

Another at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, wrote: 'Amsterdam airport is a disaster again today. Schengen-passport control queue extends beyond E-gates 4hrs waiting time'. 

The new checks apply to those flying between non-Schengen countries and other members of the EU which are inside Schengen. Whereas previously most travellers would be waved through at passport control, border staff now have to run checks against the Schengen Information System and Interpol's database. 

This can take up to two minutes, with queues of up to four hours reported at airports such as Amsterdam, according to Airlines for Europe. The lobby group represents airlines including BA, EasyJet and Ryanair.

Airlines for Europe spokesman Aage Dünhaupt said: 'We are urging member states to end this shameful situation at the EU borders. We are also urging the European Commission to use its influence on member states to ensure adequate staffing.

'This is ruining the start and end of people's vacations as they are forced to queue for hours. It is also means that there is a high risk people will miss their flights.'

The commission said member states had had plenty of time to introduce the new regulations, announced in 2015.

A spokesman added: 'We are aware that there are concerns about EU rules leading to longer waiting periods but let us be clear that this is about the security of our citizens.

'We cannot have on the one hand requests to increase security and also complaints about the longer waiting periods. One is the price for the other.'

But Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover and Deal, said: 'It's extraordinary that the European Union has brought in these rules that punish legitimate holidaymakers when they've allowed millions of people to come into the EU and move freely about.' 

WORST HIT AIRPORTS

Beleaguered passengers have been stuck in queues stretching back hundreds of metres at airports across Europe. 

However, the worst hit include Madrid Barajas International Airport, Palma de Mallorca, Lisbon, Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport, Paris-Orly, Milan–Malpensa Airport and Brussels, which have seen a surge in tourists at the start of the summer holidays.

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Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told MailOnline: 'UK travellers will have a sneaky suspicion that this is some kind of EU punishment. They are going to be thinking, what has changed?

'The only thing is that we are leaving the EU.'

Mr Bridgen said the economies of countries like Spain relied heavily on the inflow of tourists from the UK, warning that if people were not treated well they would simply go elsewhere.

'You would have thought that with the eye watering levels of youth unemployment on the continent they could find someone to work in passport control to help the holidaymakers coming to spend their money,' he added. 

British tourists among 1,000 people to miss flights as security staff deliberately take 10 MINUTES to pass each of them through security during industrial action

British holidaymakers faced further travel misery today as security staff at Barcelona airport took industrial action causing long queues and missed flights.

Staff at the El Prat airport were working to rule and deliberately taking the maximum of ten minutes to pass each passenger through security.

The industrial action during peak holiday season has caused around 1,000 people to miss flights at the airport in the past few days, airline bosses said.

Around 350 staff from the private firm Eulen Seguridad work at the airport controlling queues, operating scanners and searching passengers.

They want increased staffing levels and improved working conditions, saying they are stressed and work up to 16 hours a day. 

Aceta, the association of Spanish air transport companies, said some airlines had to delay flights because many of their passengers could not board on time. The firm said since July 24 around 1,000 passengers had not made their flights.

Pictures on social media in recent days have shown long lines of passengers in crowded terminals. A worker for airport operator Aena said some people had reported having to wait up to two hours in a queue. 

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