Ryanair announces major change to check in & bag drop amid border control chaos

Ryanair is making a major change to its services(Image: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

Ryanair has announced a major change to its services after a change in EU rules left Brits stuck in lengthy queues at airports across Europe. The update was announced today, April 22, and will kick in from Tuesday, November 10.

From that date, the Irish airline's check-in and bag-drop services will close 60 minutes before the scheduled departure. This is a 50 per cent increase on the 40-minute limit currently in place.

It comes at a particularly tricky time for flyers, with changes to the EU's systems coinciding with a jet fuel shortage due to the Strait of Hormuz being blocked as part of the Iran War. On April 10, the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully rolled out, designed to make border control a quicker and smoother experience.

But Brits were left in huge queues as they waited to input their biometric data rather than the traditional passport stamp. Just days after the rule came into force, more than 100 easyJet passengers were left stranded in Milan Linate airport after missing their flight to Manchester due to long queues at border control.

As a result of this, Greece announced that British passport holders won't have to go through the fingertip and facial scanner as planned, ditching the EES to make it an easier process.

The Middle East conflict's full impact on the aviation industry is yet to be seen. German airline Lufthansa has announced that 20,000 flights will be scrapped from their summer schedule due to the jet fuel price increase.

While other airlines have said they are not putting up prices or cancelling flights in the immediate future, many people are fearing their summer holidays may be ruined of the Iran War continues indefinitely.

Ryanair insists its new move is putting customers first, allowing passengers more time to get through the airport and avoid missing their flight due to longer queues. It does mean that some passengers may have to arrive at airports earlier than planned.

And with the 60-minute rule not coming into force until November, after the summer rush, teething problems with the EES and the jet fuel shortage caused by the Middle East conflict may be much less of an issue for those jetting off abroad.

The budget airline is also installing more self-service bag-drop kiosks, to make things simpler for passengers. The machines are fully integrated with Ryanair's app and will be available at more than 95 per cent of airports used by the Irish business by October.

This is aimed at speeding up bag-drop and cutting waiting times for the 20 per cent of Ryanair flyers who check in a bag. And with an hour to get through the airport, it is hoped this will decrease the risk of any passengers missing their flight.

Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said: "From Tues 10 November, Ryanair customers will see airport check-in and bag drops close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of today's 40 minutes.

"This will allow these 20 per cent of our customers [who check in a bag] more time to clear through airport security and passport queues, and get to their departure gate on-time, especially during busy travel periods when some of these airport queues can be longer.

"We are also installing self-service kiosks at over 95 per cent of Ryanair airports before October. This means a quicker bag-drop service, less queuing at airport desks, and an even more punctual service for the 20 per cent of our customers who still wish to check-in a bag.

"The 80 per cent [who don't check-in a bag] will be unaffected by this small 20 minute change, as they will continue to check-in online before they arrive at the departure airport and they go straight through airport security to their departure gate.