Ryanair Ditches Paper Boarding Passes from November
Ryanair will require all passengers to use digital boarding passes from November 3, becoming the first airline to go fully paperless.
Image source: LADbible
Ryanair is set to become the first airline to fully eliminate paper boarding passes, requiring all passengers to check in via its mobile app starting November 3. This move follows an earlier target set for May, but the airline has now confirmed the new timeline.
The budget carrier, which transports 200 million passengers annually, revealed that 80% of its travelers already use digital passes. The shift is aimed at enhancing the customer experience while promoting its app-based services, such as real-time disruption updates and alternative flight options.
Known for its add-on revenue model, Ryanair currently charges €55 ($59) for airport check-in with a printed pass. By implementing a fully digital system, it expects to eliminate most airport check-in fees.
However, exceptions remain—passengers departing from Morocco and those flying from Tirana, Albania, to the UK will still require paper passes due to local regulations. The airline has yet to clarify how it will accommodate travelers without smartphones.
Ryanair assures passengers that protocols are in place for cases where phones run out of battery before boarding. According to the airline’s chief marketing officer, the shift aligns with global digital trends in ticketing and contributes to sustainability by saving over 300 tons of paper annually.
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