Ryanair look to make online booking and check-in the only way to get on board a flight.
Ryanair has announced plans to do away with check-in desks at airports. Passengers will have to check-in online.
Three quarters of its customers already use internet check-in to avoid queues and charges at the airport.
From 1 October, all passengers will have to check-in online and pay five euro to do so.
Stephen McNamara, Ryanair, predicts that the new system will not present any problems to passengers. He points out there will still be assistance available at the ticket desk if needed. However passengers will have,
To have shown some way of making an attempt to have checked-in online in the first place.
From 19 March, passengers with luggage can check in online for five euro or at the airport for ten euro. From 1 May, passengers checking in must pay five euro online or twenty euro at the airport. From 1 October, check-in desks will be closed.
Twenty five per cent of all passengers at Dublin Airport currently check in online. However, problems have emerged with security delays at the airport. Siobhán Moore, Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), says that passengers need to give themselves more time to avoid missing their flight.
Ryanair insists that getting rid of check-in desks will reduce passenger air fares and travel times. Travel agents warn that the removal of check-in desks will make the prospect of planning a journey with Ryanair more complicated.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 March 2009. The reporter is Tadhg Enright.
