Ryanair Says No to Paper, Boarding Passes Go Fully Digital

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, has fully eliminated printed boarding passes across its network.

Under the new policy, all passengers must check in online and use digital boarding passes via the myRyanair app. The only exception applies to flights to and from Morocco, where local airport authorities still require paper documentation.

This move supports Ryanair’s goals to simplify the check-in process, reduce environmental impact, and lower expenses associated with paper printing and manual processing.

The change is expected to have a minimal impact on passengers, as many already use digital boarding passes.

Passengers who fail to check in online before arriving at the airport will be charged up to £55 (around $72) at the check-in desk.

Still, Ryanair is maintaining on-site support for travelers who experience technical problems. If a passenger cannot access their digital pass (for example, due to a phone malfunction), airport staff will issue a paper replacement pass free of charge.

While there are concerns that the policy could inconvenience elderly or less tech-savvy travelers, Ryanair stated that airport check-in desks will remain available for assistance and that staff will help passengers adjust during the transition.

This shift mirrors a broader digital transformation across the travel industry. For example, the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is replacing traditional passport stamping with biometric checks. During the system’s initial rollout, digital and manual methods will operate in parallel for about six months.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash