Birmingham Airport issues '3 hours' update for anyone flying Ryanair

Birmingham Airport has issued an update for Ryanair passengers informing them of revised check-in times. The airport announced via Instagram that check-in desks are now open three hours before departure for flights leaving before 18:00.

The airport has provided further information on its website to help passengers prepare for their journeys. Officials warn that check-in may take longer than expected during peak times and are urging travellers to ensure they have all required documentation ready to board their flights. Check-in times can usually be found on boarding cards, though passengers are advised to check directly with their airline for precise details.

Birmingham Airport operates a single terminal for all arriving and departing flights. Airline and handling agent desks are located on the ground floor of the check-in halls, with self-service check-in kiosks available for some airlines on both the ground and first floors.

The update comes as Ryanair, which flies from Birmingham, has warned passengers about longer queues across Europe due to new EU border checks. The airline's chief operations officer Neal McMahon stated: "As schools break up and Europe enters the busiest travel period of the year it is clear that EES is still not ready for peak summer volumes. Passengers and families should not be used as guinea pigs for a half-baked passport control system that risks creating long queues missed flights and unnecessary stress at airports this summer."

Ryanair has identified seven European airports particularly struggling with the Entry Exit System biometric checks, including Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante, and Malaga in Spain, Milan Bergamo in Italy, Krakow in Poland, and Paris Beauvais in France. The airline is advising passengers to arrive at airports earlier than usual this summer, with warnings that families face potential passport queue chaos during the peak holiday period.