Ryanair to scrap paper boarding passes from 12 November
3302 Mins Read
Ryanair will introduce a major change that will affect all passengers from November 3. The airline will be banning the use of paper boarding passes, which will no longer be accepted. Digital boarding passes will be replacing the paper version.
All passengers flying to or from a country with Ryanair must download their boarding pass using the Ryanair app. Digital boarding passes will allow real time updates to “minimise” disruption, saved travel documents for “simple” check-in and access to features like Travel Assistant, live flight updates & Order To Seat.
Michael O’Leary, the airline’s chief executive, also announced earlier this year that he expects to get rid of almost all airport check-in desks, saying that it would “create a smoother, easier journey for everybody”. The airline estimated in July that approximately 25% of Ryanair passengers rely on printed boarding passes.
While most countries will accept digital boarding passes, airports in Morocco and Turkey (except Dalaman), and Tirana airport in Albania still don’t accept mobile passes, according to Ryanair’s website.
If you’re travelling from or via these airports, you should download your boarding pass from your email confirmation or from the app, print it and keep it to hand.
Speaking to The Independent’s daily travel podcast, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said: “Between 85 and 90% of passengers show up with smartphones. Almost 100% of passengers have smartphones, and we want to move everybody onto that the smartphone technology.
“The big concern that people have is: “What happens if I lose my battery or whatever I lose my phone?”
He added: “If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you’ve checked in before you got to the airport, we’ll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge. But you have to have checked in before you got to the airport.”
Further reassurance from Mr O’Leary was: “Also, if your battery dies or something happens, once you’ve checked in, we’ll have your sequence number anyway at the boarding gate, we’ll take you you’ll get on. So nobody should worry about it. Just make sure you check in online before you get to the airport and then all will be fine.”
Ryanair’s move to entirely paperless boarding from November 2025 will enable passengers to reduce their carbon footprint by “eliminating unnecessary” paper, saving over 300 tonnes in paper waste each year.
Ryanair says that by using the myRyanair app it enhances customers’ travel experience as they benefit from a range of helpful in-app features and initiatives, including:
New Order to Seat feature allowing passengers to order direct from their seat & get served first
Live flight information and updates
Direct updates from Ryanair’s operations centre during disruption
Real-time alternative flight options during disruption
All travel documents accessible in one convenient place
