Ryanair Goes 100% Digital: Paper Boarding Passes Scrapped from November 2025

The Irish low-cost carrier, Ryanair, is once again making headlines with a major policy overhaul that will impact virtually every passenger: Starting November 12, 2025, the airline will no longer accept paper boarding passes. For millions of travelers across Europe, this definitive shift means the end of printing documents at home, and a new mandatory reliance on smartphone technology for flight access.

The Intrigue: Digital Mandate and Traveler Concerns

Ryanair’s move is framed as a critical step toward efficiency, sustainability, and an improved customer experience. The airline's rationale is strong, claiming that nearly 80% to 90% of its 206 million annual passengers already use the digital option via the myRyanair app. By moving to a 100% Digital Boarding Pass (DBP) system, the company estimates it will save over 300 tonnes of paper waste annually, aligning with broader industry sustainability goals and, crucially, significantly reducing airport check-in costs.

However, the mandatory digital policy has drawn criticism. Critics, including passenger advocacy groups, warn that the change could disproportionately affect older travelers, those without smartphones, or anyone who faces a technical issue at the airport. The primary concern is the potential for these passengers to be stranded or face the notoriously steep fees Ryanair charges for airport check-in.

Navigating the New Digital System

Under the new rules, all passengers must complete their online check-in via the Ryanair website or, preferably, the myRyanair mobile app. Once checked in, the Digital Boarding Pass will automatically appear within the app, ready to be scanned at security and the boarding gate.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has offered a crucial reassurance to address fears about technical failures:

“If you checked in online before you got to the airport, no issue. Even if your phone battery dies, or the phone breaks or is stolen, we will manually board you at the boarding gate and re-issue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge.”

The key is that the passenger must have checked in online before arriving at the airport to qualify for this free assistance. Failure to check in online before arrival will result in the application of the standard, high airport check-in fee. The airline sees this as a natural progression that will essentially eliminate these check-in fees for prepared customers, as the entire process is pushed onto the app.

Important Exceptions and Considerations

While the policy is sweeping, travelers must be aware of specific exceptions and details to ensure a smooth journey:

1. Morocco Flights: Flights to and from Moroccan airports are a notable exception. Due to local airport regulations, passengers flying on these routes must still check in online but will be required to collect a printed boarding pass at the airport. A digital-only pass will not be sufficient in this case.

2. Screenshots and PDFs: Ryanair has confirmed that it will not accept screenshots or PDF scans of the boarding pass. The pass must be presented via the active myRyanair app to ensure it is valid and scannable.

3. App Functionality: The move to DBP is part of a broader push to make the app the central hub for the customer journey. The myRyanair app offers added benefits, including live flight updates, disruption alerts, and the "Order to Seat" feature for in-flight service.

The implementation date was strategically delayed from an initial May schedule to November 12, 2025, to avoid disrupting travelers during the busy summer and mid-term peak travel periods, ensuring a smoother transition during a traditionally quieter travel time. This definitive move sets Ryanair apart as the first major European low-cost carrier to fully commit to an entirely paperless boarding process, likely pressuring competitors to follow suit.

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