Ryanair passengers who check in luggage will need to drop their bags off at least 60 minutes before departure starting next month, Europe’s largest airline has announced.

Currently, travellers flying with Ryanair can use airport bag drop services up to 40 minutes ahead of scheduled departure. The new rule takes effect at all airports the airline operates from on 10 November.

First announced in April, the change is intended to give customers more time to clear airport security and passport control queues.

According to Ryanair, just 20% of passengers currently check in bags on its flights.

“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,” Ryanair CMO Dara Brady said.

“We remind passengers using airport bag drop services to arrive at the airport in good time and ensure they have checked in and dropped their bags before check-in and bag drop closes 60 minutes before departure.”

Ryanair in the news

Last week, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary told Euronews that he believes Europe will see the biggest rise in airfare history over the next 12 months.

He claimed airlines are largely unhedged against higher jet fuel prices from April 2027, and increases passed onto customers could be as much as 20%.

O’Leary also predicted there will be fewer seats available thanks to airline bankruptcies and takeovers following the fuel crisis.

His comments came after the airline announced it would be cutting the number of routes to Belgium as a result of plans to increase the country’s aviation tax from €2 to €7 in January 2027.

Ryanair is Europe’s biggest airline, with bases across Europe including Dublin, its headquarters, as well as Marseille, Berlin, Athens, Milan and Barcelona.