Ryanair is going fully digital - at least for its passengers: Starting November 12, 2025, the Irish low-cost airline will completely eliminate printed boarding passes. From then on, all passengers must generate their tickets through the „myRyanair“ app and present them on a smartphone or tablet at boarding.
The airline justifies the measure with efficiency, environmental friendliness, and the fact that over 80 percent of travelers already use digital boarding passes, making the step a natural progression. Additionally, the app is intended to reduce waiting times and simplify the check-in process. Sharing boarding passes within a booking is also made easier: when someone books a flight for multiple passengers, they can forward the digital tickets to fellow travelers via messenger.
However, not everyone welcomes the change. Especially older people or those less comfortable with technology could be excluded by the smartphone requirement, since anyone without a mobile device or who struggles with app usage will no longer have the option to check in with Ryanair. The traditional check-in at the counter is also being completely phased out and will no longer be available, even for a fee.
Ryanair measure under fire
Critics accuse Ryanair of creating a digital barrier with this decision, one that not only affects older people but also individuals with disabilities or travelers from regions with limited access to mobile devices or stable internet connections.
Compounding the issue is Ryanair’s refusal to offer a browser-based alternative: the boarding pass can only be generated through the app. Printing it out or using a PDF from the email inbox is not sufficient. Those with older phones (many apps no longer support outdated versions of Android or iOS) or simply lacking free storage space are forced either to buy a new device or switch airlines.