Ryanair confirm scrapping of printed boarding passes from November
Ryanair have confirmed they will become the first airline to completely eliminate the use of paper in its boarding process from 3rd November, coinciding with the start of the winter season. The change means the end of printed boarding passes on almost all of its routes.
Passengers will now need to present their boarding pass either through the official Ryanair app or as a digital version on their device. The new rule will not yet apply to flights to certain destinations, such as Morocco and Albania, where local authorities still require passengers to show a paper copy before boarding.
However, on all other routes, including those from airports across the Canary Islands, the process will now be fully digital.
Ryanair says the move will help reduce its environmental impact, and according to them, eliminating paper boarding passes will save over 300 tonnes of waste each year and cut down on the use of printers and ink in European airports. The airline also claims the new system will help speed up boarding by reducing queues and congestion at departure gates.
The only condition is that passengers must complete online check-in in advance. If a traveller loses their phone or runs out of battery, they can be identified free of charge at the airport and will still be allowed to board without extra costs.
Ryanair adds that if a passenger does not have a smartphone, a friend or family member can complete the check-in online and download the pass on their behalf.
Although the change officially comes into force in November 2025, the airline points out that around 80% of its passengers already use the app, with only a small minority still relying on printed passes.
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