Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, has issued a policy update that could affect millions of travelers. The carrier is phasing out printed boarding passes in favor of a digital-only system, marking a major shift in how its passengers will travel.
Digital Boarding Passes Only
Ryanair’s new rule will take effect on 3 November 2025. Travelers will no longer be able to board with a paper pass. Instead, all passengers must use the myRyanair app to download and display their boarding cards. Ryanair will not print passes at check-in desks, which the airline says will streamline operations and cut costs.
There are a few exceptions. Due to local regulations, passengers flying from airports in Morocco, Turkey (except Dalaman), and Tirana, Albania, will still need printed passes. Under the revised Ryanair policy update, smartphones are now essential for boarding everywhere else.
Photo from Ryanair
Why the Change?
Ryanair says the policy update will eliminate most airport check-in fees linked to paper passes and save more than 300 tonnes of paper waste annually.
The airline also argues that digital passes give customers more control, especially during disruptions. The app lets travelers receive real-time updates, view alternative flight options, and access rebooking or accommodation offers.
CMO Dara Brady said the switch reflects how most customers already travel. Around 80 to 90 percent of Ryanair’s 200 million passengers already use mobile boarding passes, making the rollout of these changes a logical next step.
Concerns for Older Passengers
Not everyone may find the change seamless. Studies show only 67 percent of people over 65 use smartphones, compared with nearly 100 percent of those aged 16 to 24.
Ryanair has acknowledged these concerns, noting that passengers can ask a family member or friend to download the boarding pass on their behalf. In cases where a phone battery dies or a device is lost, staff can reissue a pass for free at the gate—as long as the passenger has checked in online.
Photo by Svitlana Hulko from Getty Images
What Travelers Should Know
For most passengers, this Ryanair policy update means little more than ensuring the myRyanair app is downloaded and ready before heading to the airport. The airline insists the change will speed up boarding and reduce airport queues while reinforcing its image as a low-cost, tech-driven carrier.
With the new rule, Ryanair has become one of the first major airlines to fully phase out printed boarding passes. For passengers, it’s a reminder that the days of paper travel documents are quickly drawing to a close.
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*Banner photo by kasto from Canva
