Ryanair has asked the Polish government to suspend the rollout of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System, or EES, until September. The airline said the move would help avoid unnecessary disruption for summer holiday passengers, many of whom travel with young children.

The carrier warned that implementing the new passport control system during the peak travel season could lead to long queues and delays at Polish airports. It said this would hit travellers at the busiest time of year, when airport traffic is already high.

Ryanair’s appeal comes as European airports prepare for one of the biggest changes to border checks in years. The EES is designed to record the entry and exit of non-EU travellers crossing the Schengen area, replacing manual passport stamping with a digital system.

The airline’s intervention puts fresh pressure on Polish authorities as they balance border security with passenger flow at major airports. It also highlights wider concerns across Europe about whether airport infrastructure is ready for the extra processing time the new system may require.

For families travelling on school holidays, even a short delay at passport control can have a wider impact on connection times, baggage handling and onward transport. Ryanair said its focus was on protecting passengers from avoidable inconvenience during the summer rush.

The request is part of a broader debate over the timing of EES implementation. Airlines and airports have repeatedly raised concerns that introducing the system in peak season could create bottlenecks before staff and systems are fully adapted.

Ryanair is one of Europe’s largest budget airlines and carries millions of passengers through Polish airports each year. Any disruption there could have a knock-on effect across its network, particularly on high-frequency leisure routes.

Poland has not publicly responded to the request in the material provided. If the government keeps to its current schedule, the new system would be introduced while demand remains at its highest.