Airlines With Fastest Boarding Times Compared
A report details five airlines known for rapid boarding, highlighting methods like WILMA and operational tactics that keep turnarounds short.
Airlines are under constant pressure to minimize boarding times, a key factor in keeping expensive aircraft flying. A report from Simple Flying compares the boarding speeds and methods of five carriers, from low-cost specialists to long-haul operators.
Ryanair's 15-20 Minute Target
Ryanair targets aircraft turnarounds of around 25 minutes to operate up to six flights daily. The airline can board an aircraft in 15 to 20 minutes on some services. A key tactic is its 'boarding not boarding' practice, where boarding for the next flight begins before the previous passengers have fully disembarked. Ryanair also enforces a strict cabin baggage policy to limit time spent stowing luggage in overhead bins.
| Fare Type | Bag Allowance | Max Dimensions (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | One small bag | 40 x 30 x 20 |
| Priority | Basic bag plus 10kg cabin bag | 55 x 40 x 20 |
Southwest's Shift From Open Seating
Southwest Airlines historically achieved quick turnarounds with a '10-minute turn' and open-seating policy. This year, it ended open seating and now assigns seats, adopting the WILMA (window, middle, aisle) boarding method. Testing found WILMA reduced boarding times by up to two minutes. A new challenge emerged in May 2025 when Southwest began charging many passengers for checked bags, which may lead more people to bring luggage into the cabin and slow the process.
easyJet's 14-Minute Trial Success
easyJet focuses on short ground times of 25 to 30 minutes for short-haul flights. In a 2019 trial at London Gatwick using a window-to-aisle sequence, the airline boarded 158 passengers onto an Airbus A320 in just 14 minutes. Despite being two to three minutes faster than its usual process, easyJet did not roll out the system network-wide. Today, it uses a priority-based pre-boarding system and, when possible, boards passengers through both the front and rear aircraft doors.
Japanese Carriers' Domestic Efficiency
All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) can board their domestic widebody flights in under 20 minutes. Both use the WILMA method. ANA developed its approach with university researchers, while JAL used a 360-degree camera and simulations to refine its domestic widebody boarding process, implementing changes in 2024.
The Long-Haul Boarding Reality
Long-haul operations inherently take longer due to larger passenger numbers. While a budget airline might board in 15 minutes, boarding a long-haul flight can take 35 to 50 minutes. United Airlines, for example, takes around 30 to 35 minutes to board its long-haul flights. The report concludes that low-cost carriers tend to have the shortest boarding times because their business models depend on rapid turnarounds.
