Ryanair will change the way airport procedures work, introducing a new rule that directly affects check-in and baggage check-in times. The measure comes into force on November 10th and reduces the time available for these processes, forcing passengers to arrive at the airport early.
The change does not involve prices or fees, but affects the organization of time before boarding. The airline justifies the decision with the need to improve passenger flow and avoid missed flights.
New reduced margin before boarding
According to the news portal, check-in and baggage drop services will now close 60 minutes before departure time, instead of the current 40 minutes. This is an effective 20 minute reduction in the time available to deal with these procedures at the airport.
The same source explains that this decision aims to respond to difficulties experienced by some passengers, especially during busy periods, when queues at security and passport controls can become longer.
Justification focuses on security queues
According to the same source, the airline believes that the change will reduce the number of passengers who end up missing flights due to delays in queues. Ryanair’s marketing director, Dara Brady, says that the objective is to give more room to overcome these constraints.
“It will allow 20% of our customers, those who check baggage, to have more time to go through airport security and the passport queues,” he said, quoted by ECO. The official adds that this adaptation can be especially relevant in periods of high movement. This means passengers will have to arrive at the airport early.
Impact limited to a minority of passengers
The measure will have a direct impact mainly on passengers who choose to check baggage, which represent around 20% of the total. They will have to adjust their schedules to comply with the new, more demanding limit. The other 80% of customers, who only travel with cabin luggage, can still check-in online and go directly to the boarding gate, without changes to the usual process.
The decision is also linked to the expansion of self-service kiosks for baggage check-in. This equipment is being implemented on a large scale by the airline. By October, Ryanair expects to have these systems available in around 95% of the airports where it operates, including in Portugal, allowing greater automation of processes.
The objective is to reduce queues and speed up processes
The same source mentions that the introduction of these kiosks should help reduce waiting times at traditional counters. The company believes that combining this technology with the new time limit can make the process more efficient. “It means a faster baggage check-in service, fewer queues at the airport counters”, explained the company’s spokeswoman, quoted by the same protal.
The publication adds that Ryanair associates this change with improved flight punctuality. The company believes that reorganizing times at the airport can help reduce delays. The company also highlights that the majority of passengers will not be affected by this change, as they already use digital procedures and do not resort to checking in baggage.
Change arises in a broader context
According to ECO, this measure occurs during a period in which the carrier has been adapting its operational services, including recent warnings about possible external impacts, such as issues related to fuel supply.
Still, the company frames the new rule as a specific operational change, focused on managing passenger flow and improving the airport experience.
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