Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has hit out at airports operator BAA over a request to open check-in desks three hours before the departure of short-haul flights.
O’Leary said: “We have a problem opening check-in desks earlier than two hours before a flight because we would run out of them.
“What will the next idea be? Check in the day before? The real problem is BAA is grossly understaffed.”
BAA confirmed most airlines have agreed to open check-in desks earlier to help get passengers through security, and not just at Stansted, where passengers were hit by delays in October.
A spokesman said: “We’ve asked at virtually every airport and most major airlines have done so.”
But at Stansted, Ryanair has refused and continues to be dogged by delays. Up to 300 passengers missed flights on a single day of the recent half-term holiday.
The airport says 160 additional security staff will start work shortly. Ryanair argues training the staff should take just two weeks, but BAA insists a combination of training and security checks takes 12 weeks.