Spanish Low Cost Airline Clickair to Do Away with Check-in

Clickair Spain’s low-cost airline is to eliminate check-in, in bid to become the world’s first airline to do so. Spain is often viewed as backward in much of its business operations but low-coster Clickair is making waves by initally offering a check-in free service to passengers with hand baggage only.

Clickair Spain’s very first low-cost airline operates out of Barcelona’s El Prat airport and was established back in 2006. With tickets priced slightly higher than those of Ryanair but still well below the majority of its rivals, Clickair positions itself as a third generation low-cost carrier serving most European capitals. It currently flies to Seville and Valencia out of London Heathrow and Gatwick which began back in February of this year. Clickair is well aware that Heathrow is not your typical low-cost airport bases given it’s higher airport charges but provides a dual service for both leisure and business passengers.

Clickair Spain has more plans for London routes. Low cost flights routes operating to the traditional holiday resorts airport hubs of Malaga, Almeria, Jerez, Murcia and Alicante would be hugely welcomed from holidaymakers and spanish property owners alike and is another reason why Spain’s Costa’s continue to be a hit with foreign property owners. A greater choice of flights improves competition among flight operators which ultimately benefits the customer and improves Spain’s desirability if it is cheap and easy to get to. The carrier will begin flights from Edinburgh in August.

The new Click & Fly system would allow passengers to circumvent the check-in process. Speaking to Air & Business Travel News, the airline’s chief executive, Alex Cruz, said: “We will eliminate check-in and have secured permission from the Spanish authorities, as well as enabling it from Heathrow and Gatwick from June 25.”

Clickair’s business model centres on tight fixed cost control and its clickair services generate a large proportion of its revenues offering car hire, hotel rooms etc from its online booking site www.clickair.com .