easyJet leaves 122 passengers behind after border delays at Milan Linate

Disruption overview

An easyJet flight from Milan Linate Airport to Manchester Airport left on 13 April 2026 with only 34 passengers onboard after severe border-control queues prevented 122 others from reaching the gate in time. Many travelers had arrived around 3.5 hours before departure, but new European Union exit checks, including biometric scans and database cross-checks, created delays far beyond what staff appeared to expect. easyJet later offered same-day or next-day rebooking to Manchester and meal vouchers. Because the disruption may have come down to planning and boarding management rather than a problem fully outside the airline's control, affected passengers may still be able to claim up to £520 compensation under EC 261.

Disruption details

An easyJet service from Milan Linate Airport to Manchester Airport left on 13 April 2026 with only 34 passengers onboard, after severe border-control queues stopped 122 others from reaching the gate in time. For passengers, this meant arriving early, waiting for hours, and still watching their flight leave without them.

In total, 156 people had booked the flight. Many travelers got to Linate around 3.5 hours before departure, but newly introduced European Union exit checks created much longer lines than airport and airline staff appeared to expect. The process included biometric scans and database cross-checks, which slowed the checkpoint significantly.

The aircraft still pushed back on schedule while those passengers were stuck in the immigration line. There was no warning that wait times had grown so long, and many travelers were then left trying to find airline representatives for rebooking, food, and basic support once the flight had gone.

The impact on this single flight was clear:

• 156 passengers were booked on the Milan to Manchester service.

• 122 passengers were left behind at the airport.

• Only 34 passengers traveled on the scheduled departure.

• The disruption was limited to 1 flight rather than a wider network event.

easyJet later said the issue was caused by unusually severe border-processing delays beyond the airline's control. The airline eventually offered same-day or next-day rebooking to Manchester, and meal vouchers were provided after the incident drew wider attention.

This was a single completed event rather than a wave of cancellations across the network, and no injuries were reported. Even so, it highlights a wider problem as airports adapt to new border rules introduced this spring. Airports in Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Rome have all seen processing times rise by about 40–60%, raising the risk of similar problems during the busy summer period.

The pressure is especially sharp for low-cost airlines that rely on fast turnarounds. When border formalities start taking 45 minutes instead of fitting inside a much shorter buffer, there is very little room left before boarding closes. That can quickly turn a routine departure into a missed flight for dozens of passengers.

If you were left behind on this flight, the main question is what happens next. When a disruption comes down to planning and boarding management rather than something fully outside the airline's control, passengers may still have rights under EC 261. That can include rebooking, care such as meals and refreshments, and potentially reimbursement of reasonable extra costs.

Compensation may also be possible. Passengers who were left behind and reached Manchester much later than planned may be entitled to up to £520 compensation, depending on the details of their journey and how the claim is assessed. Claims need to be made individually, and easyJet's usual timeline for handling them is 6 to 8 weeks.

If your flight was affected, keep your booking confirmation, receipts, and any messages from the airline. Then you can check your compensation with AirHelp in just 2 minutes and see whether EC 261 applies to your trip.

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