From November, paper boarding cards will no longer be accepted on Ryanair flights. The airline announced on Wednesday, March 5, that physical tickets will be prohibited from the 3rd of this month, making it mandatory to use digital boarding cards for all passengers.
Adherence to digital check-in is already high
Most travelers who use Ryanair already adhere to the online check-in system. Currently, about 80 percent of the company’s 200 million annual passengers choose this modality, reducing the need for physical counters at airports.
Still, there are those who continue to prefer face-to-face check-in, an option that implies payment of an additional fee. Depending on the airport and the situation, this value can reach € 40.
The measure, which was initially scheduled for May, was postponed to November, coinciding with the period of lower movement on the company’s flights. The transition to a fully digital system will allow you to eliminate traditional check-in counters.
Environmental impact and modernization of the service
With this change, Ryanair intends to reduce its ecological footprint, avoiding the use of unnecessary role. According to the company, it is estimated that this decision saves more than 300 tons of paper waste annually.
The company’s marketing director Dara Brady justified the measure as a way to improve passenger experience. “This change to 100 percent boarding cards without paper from November 2025 will allow us to provide an improved travel experience to our customers, simplified through the Myryanair application during our less busy winter calendar,” he said.
According to, the decision is part of the airline’s strategy to modernize its services, making operations more efficient and reducing administrative costs associated with printed tickets.
By making it mandatory to use digital boarding cards, the company expects passengers to use the official application. The platform allows not only to unload tickets, but also to access other features, such as the purchase of additional services or flight monitoring.
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Possible difficulties and exceptions to the rule
Scanning the boarding process will not only affect customers. Ryanair’s land staff will also see their functions altered as the elimination of check-in counters will redistribute teams to other areas of customer service.
Despite the bet on a totally digital system, the airline ensures that there will be solutions to any technical problems. If a passenger cannot access the digital ticket on his device, Ryanair will ensure that he does not lose his flight.
Printed boarding cards will continue to be available, but only in exceptional situations. The company has not detailed under what circumstances this option will be applied, but indicated that it intends to use it only as a last resource.
Many European airports have been operating almost exclusively with digital tickets, making this a natural step in modernizing the aviation sector. Other airlines have gradually reduce paper use by encouraging passengers to adopt digital solutions.
The future of aviation and the digital transition
Industry experts point out that process digitization can streamline boarding, reducing waiting times and making trips more efficient. In addition, the elimination of paper contributes to global environmental goals for sustainability.
Ryanair has been betting on various initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. In addition to the transition to digital boarding cards, the company has been investing in more efficient fleets and sustainable fuels.
With the date of implementation of the measurement, passengers must ensure that they have access to Myryanair application and that their mobile devices are prepared to present digital tickets.
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