Ryanair has plans to scrap the physical boarding pass from the start of its winter schedule on November 3rd and make it completely paperless. Budget Airline CEO Michael O'Leary first announced the move last October.
Originally, the airline was working towards the May 1st date, but earlier this month announced that it would delay its implementation until six months. Once introduced, Ryanair passengers will no longer download and print physical boarding passes, but instead use digital passes. The move wants to reduce travelers' carbon footprint and save paper.
Almost 80% of Ryanair's 200 million passengers already use the digital boarding pass, according to the statement.
“As a result of this customer initiative, Ryanair expects to eliminate almost all airport check-in fees from November 2025, as all passengers will check in online/apps and generate digital boarding passes.”
The move will “allow passengers to reduce their carbon footprint by eliminating unnecessary paper and saving more than 300 tons of paper waste each year.”
However, not all are on Ryanair's plans, with concerns that primarily surround older people and concerns that are unfamiliar with smartphones.
Following a recent survey, travel insurance expert Tiger.co.uk revealed that almost half of passengers (43%) prefer to print boarding passes during flight.
The survey also highlighted that one in four people would postpone flights on airlines that use only digital boarding passes. Most concerns surround senior travelers and unskilled people.
There are also concerns about potential phone issues and app failures.
The new changes will not affect travelers heading for this summer holiday, but experts are using this transition time to encourage them to become familiar with digital check-in, so they are well adjusted before bill passes are completely eliminated.
To avoid confusion, travelers should ensure that their mobile devices are fully charged before heading to the airport, and, if possible, carry a portable charger.
It is also important to download all the travel documents you need in advance, rather than relying on internet access at the airport.
The survey results are based on a random survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK in February 2025, representing an error bar of approximately 5% with a 95% confidence level.
Many travelers have openly shared criticism of Ryanair's move. They are trying to make things difficult for no reason at all. ”
According to Metro, one reader wrote: “People just boycott…not everyone has a smartphone or app…” another reader added, “Boycott, EasyJet, Jet2 instead.”
