This in the USA:
Alaska Airlines is getting rid of the self-serve airport kiosks that print boarding passes
Alaska Airlines has started removing kiosks to print boarding passes at airports, as part of a $2.5 billion investment in its passengers' "lobby experience."
The goal is to get passengers "through the lobby and to security in 5 minutes or less," according to a recent press release, and have them download their boarding passes on the app, or print them at home to save time.
"The reality is our lobbies are hugely congested," Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines executive vice president and chief commercial officer,
said in an April call discussing earnings results. "And what we're finding is at least a 10-point increase in people coming prepared to the lobby, checked in already, even paid for their bag."
Business Insider
Being cynical, I'm not sure how much of the investment in the 'lobby experience' is about saving money. However, if they make it work, we might see more of this on our side of the pond.