RYANAIR TO SCRAP PRINTED BOARDING PASSES STARTING NOVEMBER 12

Ryanair, the Irish low-cost airline, has announced plans to completely phase out printed boarding passes starting November 12, requiring all passengers to use digital boarding passes instead. The decision, reported by German media, marks a major step in the airline’s effort to become the world’s first paperless carrier.

The familiar small paper slip with a passenger’s name, QR code, and seat number — long a comfort for less experienced travelers — is officially becoming a thing of the past. Despite widespread criticism, Ryanair insists it will not reverse the move.

According to the company, eliminating paper boarding passes could prevent more than 300 tons of waste annually, aligning with its environmental goals. While competitors still offer passengers a choice between paper and digital options, Ryanair says it is determined to go fully digital.

EVERYTHING THROUGH THE APP

Ryanair’s smartphone app, “myRyanair,” will play a central role in the transition. It will be the only way passengers can generate a boarding pass during online check-in. The company also aims to attract customers who book through third-party portals to use the app directly.

Without a digital boarding pass on a smartphone, travelers will not be able to pass security checks or board the aircraft. However, the app will not be mandatory for every individual passenger: one traveler can hold multiple boarding passes for a group or forward them to others’ phones, according to Fenix Magazine.

Ryanair has promised free assistance at airports for passengers who complete online check-in.

“If your phone battery dies or something goes wrong, we’ll still have your seat number after check-in, and you will be allowed to board. No one needs to worry,” the airline’s spokesperson assured.

For passengers without smartphones, Ryanair recommends seeking help from friends or family members to complete online check-in, German media report.

PRINTED PASS – LAST AND COSTLY OPTION

Those who ignore repeated reminders to check in online will still be able to obtain a printed boarding pass at the airport — but at a high cost. Depending on the departure country, the airport check-in fee will range from €30 in Spain, €40 in Austria, and €55 in the rest of the EU or the UK per passenger and flight segment.

However, Ryanair confirmed that the previously charged €20 reprint fee for lost or reissued boarding passes will be discontinued.

ONE OF EUROPE’S LEADING AIRLINES

Ryanair, headquartered at Dublin Airport, is a subsidiary of Ryanair Holdings PLC and carried 152 million passengers in 2019, making it Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers.

While its operations are mainly within Europe, the company also flies to Morocco and the Middle East, holding a license for domestic operations within Morocco. As of June 2024, Ryanair has designated 95 airports as operational bases, each hosting at least one permanently stationed aircraft and crew.