Ryanair CEO warns of fare hikes and flight delays from new EU rules

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said the European Union’s new hand‑bag regulation will force airlines to display a fare that already includes a larger cabin‑bag charge. Under the rule a €20 base fare could appear as €80 when the larger bag is added, which O’Leary argues may mislead passengers into thinking tickets have become significantly more expensive.

He also warned that the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), rolled out in April 2026, is causing long passport‑control queues at several airports, including Athens, Lisbon and Madrid. Ryanair will not wait for passengers who miss the boarding gate because of these delays, urging travellers to arrive earlier. O’Leary cited a May incident in which a flight from Toulouse to London Stansted left without about 150 passengers stuck in border queues.