Ryanair has brought forward its airport check-in and bag drop deadline to 60 minutes before departure, requiring passengers with checked luggage to complete the process 20 minutes earlier than under the previous rule.

The mandatory cut-off replaces the former 40-minute limit at every airport across the low-cost airline’s network, including its British and European operations.

The change is intended to give passengers more time to clear security and passport control during peak periods. It moves the deadline for handing over luggage; it does not itself establish that those checks will be quicker.

For travellers checking in bags, the practical distinction is important: one hour before departure is the cut-off for completing bag drop, not a target time for arriving at the airport.