diff --git a/apps/edr-passenger-web/portal/src/app/booking/passengers/page.tsx b/apps/edr-passenger-web/portal/src/app/booking/passengers/page.tsx
index e443ccf07..814a5009e 100644
--- a/apps/edr-passenger-web/portal/src/app/booking/passengers/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-passenger-web/portal/src/app/booking/passengers/page.tsx
@@ -568,9 +568,8 @@ function createFormSchema(adultCount: number) {
       // Contact fields are only collected from — and validated against — adults.
       // Children's phone/email are inherited from the primary adult, not user-entered.
       if (isAdult) {
-        if (!p.email || p.email.trim().length === 0) {
-          ctx.addIssue({ code: z.ZodIssueCode.custom, message: 'Email is required', path: ['passengers', i, 'email'] });
-        } else {
+        // Email is optional — only validate its format when the user actually provides one.
+        if (p.email && p.email.trim().length > 0) {
           const emailRegex = /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/;
           if (!emailRegex.test(p.email)) {
             ctx.addIssue({ code: z.ZodIssueCode.custom, message: 'Invalid email format', path: ['passengers', i, 'email'] });
@@ -1191,7 +1190,7 @@ export default function PassengersPage() {
 
                                 {/* Email */}
                                 <div>
-                                  <label className="block text-sm font-medium mb-1 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300">Email *</label>
+                                  <label className="block text-sm font-medium mb-1 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300">Email (optional)</label>
                                   <input
                                     type="email"
                                     {...register(`passengers.${index}.email`)}
@@ -1280,7 +1279,7 @@ export default function PassengersPage() {
 
                                 {/* Email */}
                                 <div>
-                                  <label className="block text-sm font-medium mb-1 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300">Email *</label>
+                                  <label className="block text-sm font-medium mb-1 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300">Email (optional)</label>
                                   <input
                                     type="email"
                                     {...register(`passengers.${index}.email`)}