Ryanair will officially scrap paper boarding passes on its flights from 12 November 2025.
The switch to app-only tickets was due to take place on 3 November to coincide with the start of its winter schedule. However, Ryanair has pushed back the move to ensure a smoother transition. According to the Irish low cost carrier (LCC), nearly 80% of its 206 million passengers already use the digital boarding pass option.
Dara Brady, Chief Marketing Officer at Ryanair, said:
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.
Ryanair says that the move will save 300 tonnes in paper waste each year and eliminate costly airport check-in fees for passengers.
Exceptions remain to the digital-first policy: flights to Morocco and Albania will still require paper boarding passes due to local airport infrastructure and regulatory requirements.
Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary has confirmed that passengers who encounter smartphone problems and are unable to access their digital boarding pass can get a paper version without paying the usual £20 fee. However, the end of paper passes has raised questions about digital exclusion and airline accessibility.
Other airlines have also made moves towards digital-first boarding passes. Since 2023, Emirates has required most passengers travelling to Dubai to use a mobile boarding pass. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines has removed the option of printing paper passes at is airport kiosks.
Join us at World Aviation Festival 2025, where Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson will be discussing the future of low cost carriers.
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