Ryanair has announced that all passengers will be required to check-in for flights using its online app from May, a move that could potentially ground those without smartphones. At present, customers are strongly urged to check-in online to avoid a €55 fee at the airport.
However, CEO Michael O’Leary has expressed his intention to eliminate check-in desks within the next six months. This would mean that any passenger without a smartphone would be unable to board a Ryanair flight.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, Mr O’Leary stated: “We will get rid of ticket desks and then there’s no reason to charge people for airport check-in.Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.”
He added: “We want to get rid of airport checks in the same way we got rid of bag [desks]. We are working towards from May 1 that everything will be done on the app, nothing will be done on paper anymore.”
He further noted: “It will probably be around April or May of next year, after Easter. I think from May next year it will be 100% the app.”, reports Dublin Live.
Despite his own reservations, Mr O’Leary said he is prepared to modify the airline’s system so that all bookings and check-ins will have to be conducted via the Ryanair app.
The CEO of Ryanair has highlighted the benefits of a new app, suggesting it could reduce the need for airport staff and help maintain low airfare prices. He shared his initial hesitance: “I have been reluctant to go on the app because I am terrified to get on a flight without a piece of paper, but it works so well. [The app] tells you your gate and if there is a delay.”
He also drew parallels with past consumer behaviour: “The customers who want the piece of paper are the same demographic that when we first moved over to the internet they wouldn’t move over but were then the first ones to switch to the internet for cheaper airfares.”
Mr O’Leary noted that 60% of passengers currently use the app, a figure he expects to increase to 80% by year’s end.
From May, the app will become mandatory for all customers. Addressing concerns about phone batteries dying, Mr O’Leary reassured: “If your battery dies we have your seat and your passport and we can do that at the boarding gates at the moment.”
He added, “We sometimes do that if someone’s phone doesn’t scan for some reason. Once we have the name and passport that’s fine but everyone will be on the app.”
The airline executive also recently advocated for a two-drink limit at airports due to a rise in disruptive passengers.
The Ryanair chief has called for a restriction on airport drinking, suggesting a two-drink cap per passenger. He explained: “When flights run late there are people in the bars sculling the pints, so we asked for a two-drink cap – you show your boarding pass and it’s stamped. We need to bring it back a little bit on the amount of drinking, I personally am fond of a drink but I don’t know why bars in airports are open at 7am, the normal pubs can’t open until 11am or 12am.”
He also mentioned he wouldn’t mind imposing a similar limit on his flights, adding: “Would it cost us money? Not much. Our average flight time is 1 hour and 15 minutes, very few people buy and consume two alcoholic drinks in that time.”
“And if they are misbehaving on our flights our cabin crew don’t serve them anyway.”
