Ryanair is completely switching to digital boarding passes. Passengers will need to use their smartphones to board the aircraft. The airline also plans to abolish its check-in counters. However, many travelers fear issues with the new system.
What will change at Ryanair? The company announced in an official statement (via ryanair.com) that starting November 3, 2025, only digital boarding passes will be accepted by Ryanair worldwide. Originally, this transition was planned for March 2025, but Ryanair has now postponed the introduction. From that date, passengers will only be able to board their flights with a ticket on their smartphones. Travelers will receive their ticket through the Ryanair app.
This is why Ryanair wants to go paperless: Ryanair’s decision to use only digital boarding passes has several reasons. The Irish airline aims to save over 300 tons of waste per year by eliminating paper and reduce its carbon footprint. This would also save the company costs related to paper. At the same time, there are plans to abolish the check-in counters. This is intended to reduce operating costs and make the process easier for passengers.
Currently, about 80% of passengers use the digital boarding pass via the myRyanair app. After the transition, all travelers are expected to do so. The app will not only provide the boarding pass but also additional features such as live flight information, updates on flight disruptions, and an “Order to Seat” option that allows passengers to place their orders directly from their seats.
During a flight, good entertainment is, of course, a must. Watch the trailer for Season 2 of The Last of Us here:
Ryanair’s Transition Raises Concerns
What does this mean for travelers? Starting in November, travelers will be required to check in online to receive their digital ticket. Without a smartphone, regular boarding will no longer be possible. Those who currently miss booking a digital ticket may face additional fees for check-in at the counter, where there is a fee of up to 55 euros for printing the boarding pass. Ryanair emphasizes that with the abolition of check-in counters, the option to print tickets will also be eliminated.
What problems are expected? The transition to digital boarding passes raises concerns, especially among travelers without smartphones or in cases of technical issues, such as a dead battery. Questions regarding how Ryanair will assist in such cases have been raised by the magazine Xataka, but remain unanswered.
There are also legal concerns: The consumer protection association Facua criticized the decision as “illegal and abusive,” particularly regarding disadvantaged groups who rely on printed boarding passes. In some countries, such as Morocco or Turkey, where printed tickets are still required, issues may also arise.
While Ryanair is advancing the digitalization of its services, tourism in other parts of the world is also changing. In Japan, for example, the most famous cities of the country are experiencing an influx of tourists, leading to overcrowded cities. The Japanese government is now urging tourists to travel more to the rural areas of the country to support less visited regions.
