Just Boarding Pass Needed for Italy, EU Flights Now

Rome: Air passengers will be able to board flights in Italy and the rest of the EU with just their boarding pass, obviating the need for ID documents like passports, under new regulations already in force, civil aviation agency ENAC said Thursday. “At Italian airports, it is no longer mandatory to show an identity document along with the boarding pass at the gate for all domestic and European flights,” ENAC said, confirming that the change is already in effect.

According to Ansa News Agency, ENAC President Pierluigi De Palma clarified that while ID documents must always be carried and available for any checks, the new rule aims to reduce bureaucratic procedures and expedite the boarding process. De Palma explained to Corriere della Sera that the removal of the ID requirement at boarding gates is intended to save time and streamline operations, although all security checks remain in place.

Despite the intended efficiency, the decision has faced criticism. Codacons consumer group expressed “astonishment that levels of security and safety have been lowered in this way,” while Assoutenti, another consumer group, voiced its concern about potential security implications. The changes have sparked a debate about balancing passenger convenience with security measures.