Total digital. That is the direction Ryanair has charted for the boarding process on its flights. The Irish airline has been working for some time on a plan to implement it throughout the year, though it has already suffered a first postponement: to completely eliminate the use of printed boarding passes.
In a new move to promote the use of its official app, Ryanair has set November 3, 2025 as the deadline to stop accepting passengers who present their boarding card in paper format. The aim is that from then on, access to the aircraft will be conducted solely via mobile.
This is a measure that had already been announced previously and, initially, was planned for the spring of that same year. However, the schedule was adjusted and in November the company made the digital format the exclusive requirement.
Eco-friendly for Ryanair, questionable for FACUA
The move to eliminate paper is partly due to a clear strategy: push users toward the airline’s digital ecosystem, especially toward its app. The company defended the measure by citing data such as an estimated reduction of up to 300 tons of paper per year and the fact that most of its customers already use digital boarding passes.
Additionally, they emphasize that their app not only serves for boarding but also centralizes useful information such as flight updates or incident notifications, thereby reinforcing its role as the main travel tool.
Foto de Sevcan Alkan en Unsplash
However, there are points that remain not entirely clear: the airline has not detailed what will happen to passengers who arrive at the airport with their printed card, nor how unforeseen situations will be handled, such as phone malfunctions after security checks.
In response to these questions, the company has stated that if a passenger already has their card downloaded and experiences a problem with their device, they will receive free assistance at the airport. Still, it has not offered a concrete answer for those who opt directly for the physical format.
From the consumer side, criticisms have been strong. FACUA has described this initiative as potentially abusive, arguing that it could infringe basic rights by limiting options to access the flight.
The organization also warns that the measure may disproportionately affect more vulnerable profiles. On one hand, it notes that free check-in is not always available at the moment of purchase. On the other, it insists that eliminating the option to print the boarding pass could leave those who depend on that format without alternatives.
Foto de appshunter.io en Unsplash
The ecological aspect of Ryanair’s discourse has not gone unnoticed either. FACUA doubts that the environmental motive is the primary one and points more toward a cost-cutting strategy, including both materials and airport staff.
This move also takes place amid tensions between the airline and various public administrations. Ryanair has since threatened to reduce its presence at some airports, citing the high cost of fees, which many interpret as pressure following penalties related to its cabin baggage policies.
