Irish passengers on alert as Ryanair makes U-turn on controversial boarding pass rule

Irish airline Ryanair has announced it will delay its transition to fully paperless boarding passes, pushing the move back until later this year.

Originally planned for earlier this year, the change will require all passengers to check in online or via the “myRyanair” app and use a digital boarding pass instead of a printed version.

The airline states that nearly 80% of its 200 million passengers already use digital passes, and the new policy aims to eliminate airport check-in fees and reduce paper waste by over 300 tonnes per year.

From November 3 2025, Ryanair passengers will no longer have the option to print a physical boarding pass at home or at the airport. Instead, all boarding passes must be generated digitally through the airline’s app.

The airline says the move will streamline the check-in process, improve efficiency at boarding gates, and enhance the passenger experience with new app features.

Initially planned for earlier in 2025, the delay will allow the airline to introduce the change during the quieter winter season, ensuring a smoother transition.

Ryanair has also confirmed that passengers who lose access to their digital pass due to a dead phone battery or other issues will be assisted free of charge at the airport.

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Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Dara Brady, said the move is in line with other industries, such as concerts, sports venues, and public transport, which have already moved towards digital ticketing.

“This move to 100% paperless boarding passes from November 2025 will allow us to deliver an enhanced travel experience for customers, streamlined through the myRyanair app during our less busy Winter schedule. 

“This will be particularly useful to passengers during disruptions as it will facilitate real-time updates from our Ops Centre directly to passengers’ phones, and will also provide them with alternative flight options, and offer transfers or hotel accommodation options when necessary.

“Like other ticket industries (concert, sports venues, rail, etc.) there has been a massive switch to using mobile, and with almost 80% of Ryanair customers already using the myRyanair app, it is time to transition the remaining passengers to digital, which will see them reduce their carbon footprint and receive a smoother and enhanced travel experience from November 2025 as Ryanair continues to grow to 300m passengers over the next decade.”

The airline expects this transition to support its growth strategy, aiming to reach 300 million passengers over the next decade.