Major Airline Just Announced Its Eliminating All Paper Boarding Passes

A major European airline is going totally digital with its boarding passes starting later this fall.

Ireland's Ryanair, a popular budget carrier, recently announced it will be eliminating paper boarding passes on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Originally, the move to 100% digital was scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3.

Beginning Nov. 12, Ryanair customers will no longer be able to print out a boarding pass at home or at the airport. Instead, they will need to download the "myRyanair” app in order to access their pass at check-in.

"Ryanair’s move to 100% digital boarding passes will mean a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class “myRyanair” app, where passengers will also benefit from helpful in-app features, like Order to Seat and live flight information," said Ryanair CEO Dara Brady.

Ryanair's latest digital change

According to Ryanair's press release announcing the switch, nearly 80% of the airline's customers already use digital boarding passes.

Getting rid of paper boarding passes is Ryanair's latest digital initiative, as the company had already rolled out in-app features such as ordering food and drink service from your seat on your phone, real-time flight updates, and live notifications from Ryanair’s Operations Centre during disruption or delays.

Brady, the company's CEO, said Ryanair is moving to all-digital boarding passes on Nov. 12 because it is "traditionally a slightly quieter time for travel following the busy mid-term break period." 

Potential pitfalls?

While Ryanair is correct that other industries such as concerts and sporting events are going fully digital, the biggest potential issue here is easy to identify: not everyone who flies has a smartphone.

Certainly, a large number of travelers in 2025 do use smartphones, but there are obviously going to be some customers, likely older ones, who eschew the modern technology for more retro devices.

Those folks will likely have the toughest adjustment to Ryanair's new policy.