Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary reiterated that flights will depart without passengers who are not at the boarding gate once boarding has finished, placing the burden on travelers to arrive early to navigate the EU’s new EES border system. He framed this as a core policy, saying the airline will not wait for those delayed by passport control queues and that passengers must be at the gate when boarding ends. The policy comes amid widespread delays at Schengen-area airports, with waits reported up to three hours since the EES changes, leading to missed flights and substantial, unrecoverable costs for stranded travelers. O’Leary also criticized the EU’s travel rules, branding Ursula von der Leyen as “stupid” during media appearances. Across multiple outlets, the messages converge on personal responsibility for timely arrival, the financial strain on travelers, and Ryanair’s refusal to delay flights for those stuck in border-control queues.