Increasing popularity and growing customer demand for online check-in has prompted Emirates Airline to expand the service and extend its time limit to 24 hours before flight departure.

Online check-in was first introduced by Emirates in 2005 allowing passengers to conveniently undertake check-in formalities from the comfort of their homes or offices by logging on to www.emirates.com.

Since then the innovative Dubai-based airline has expanded the facility’s reach to 67 airports across Europe, including Malta, Africa, Middle East, Indian sub-continent and Australasia, representing 75 per cent of Emirates’ rapidly-expanding network. With the time extension, online check-in is presently available between 24 and two hours prior to flight departure.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates’ executive vice-president commercial operations worldwide said: “Emirates is pleased to expand this service and ensure greater flexibility and convenience for our customers. Online check-in gives passengers greater control of their travel plans by allowing them to select and secure preferred seats and check special requests.”

Pre-assigned seating through online check-in is applicable to all passengers. When checking in online, passengers will be prompted to enter relevant travel details including passenger name and booking reference or Skywards number. Thereafter, an interactive seating plan can be viewed and passengers can choose their preferred seats from among those available at the time of check-in. The seat number requested in the booking is automatically assigned to the passenger.

On completion of the check-in process, an online receipt is provided with which passengers can proceed to a dedicated counter at the airport to check in their baggage quickly and conveniently, and exchange the receipt for a boarding pass. At Dubai International airport, passengers travelling with carry-on bags can proceed to the self check-in kiosks to print their conventional boarding pass.

Travellers must arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to flight take-off if checking in baggage and 60 minutes if travelling with hand luggage only.

Online check-in can be availed of by individuals or groups of up to nine persons travelling together. In addition, passengers can check in online for onward flights, provided the travel commences on Emirates.

Emirates currently operates five flights weekly between Malta and Dubai via Larnaca in Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on the new Boeing 777-200