From 10 November, Ryanair passengers who check in luggage will have to hand over their bags at the airport at least 60 minutes before their scheduled departure. The airline, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, is extending the previous 40-minute cut-off in a bid to give travellers more time to navigate security and passport control, especially during peak travel periods.
The move, first announced in April, applies across all airports in Ryanair's network, which spans much of the continent from Dublin to Madrid, Berlin to Rome. According to the carrier, only about 20% of its customers currently use the bag drop service, so the change will affect a minority of travellers, but those who do will need to plan their airport arrival more carefully.
Why the change?
Ryanair's chief marketing officer, Dara Brady, said the adjustment is intended to reduce stress for passengers and improve on-time performance. "This small change will give the 20% of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag, more time to clear airport security and passport control queues and get to their departure gate before boarding begins, particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer," he said.
Brady also reminded passengers to arrive at the airport with enough time to complete check-in and bag drop before the new 60-minute deadline. The airline has not indicated any plans to alter its strict carry-on baggage policy, which remains a key revenue source.
The decision comes as Ryanair continues to face scrutiny over its operational practices and customer service. Earlier this year, the airline's CEO, Michael O'Leary, criticised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over environmental regulations, calling her "useless" in a blunt attack on EU green rules. That episode underscored the airline's often combative relationship with Brussels.
Broader turbulence ahead
Ryanair's operational tweak is happening against a backdrop of wider industry challenges. In an interview with Euronews last week, O'Leary predicted that Europe could see the largest increase in airfares in history over the next 12 months. He attributed this to airlines being largely unhedged against higher jet fuel prices from April 2027, with potential fare hikes of up to 20% passed on to passengers.
O'Leary also forecast a reduction in available seats due to airline bankruptcies and takeovers triggered by the fuel crisis. His comments followed Ryanair's announcement that it would cut routes to Belgium in response to a planned increase in the country's aviation tax from €2 to €7 in January 2027. That decision highlights the growing tension between national governments seeking to raise revenue and the low-cost carrier's cost-sensitive model.
The airline's route network continues to evolve, with new summer 2027 routes recently unveiled alongside easyJet, showing that expansion remains a priority even as costs rise. Meanwhile, the broader European aviation sector is watching developments such as a Dutch startup's electric airliner that could eventually reshape short-haul travel, though such technologies remain years from commercial service.
For now, passengers flying with Ryanair should note the new bag drop deadline and adjust their airport schedules accordingly. The change is a reminder that even the most streamlined low-cost carriers are tightening their operational windows in an increasingly complex travel environment.
