has plans to scrap physical boarding passes and from the start of its winter schedule on November 3. The budget airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, first announced the move last October, and will require passengers to use the "myRyanair" app during check in.
Originally, the airline was working towards a date of May 1, but it announced earlier this month that it would . Once introduced, Ryanair passengers will no longer download and print a physical paper boarding pass but will instead use the digital pass. The move hopes to reduce the carbon footprint of travellers and save paper.
According to the , almost 80% of Ryanair's 200 million passengers already use this digital boarding pass.
It reads: "As a result of this customer initiative, Ryanair expects to eliminate almost all airport check-in fees from Nov 2025, as all passengers will have checked-in online/in-app to generate their digital boarding pass."
The move "will enable passengers to reduce their by eliminating unnecessary paper, saving over 300 tonnes in paper waste each year".
However, not all are on board with Ryanair's plans, with concerns mostly surrounding elderly people and those not savvy with .
Following a recent survey, travel insurance experts revealed that nearly half of passengers (43%) prefer to print their boarding passes when flying and this shift towards digital-only check-ins has raised alarm bells among some travellers.
The survey also highlighted that one in four people would be put off flying with an airline that only uses digital boarding passes, with most concerns surrounding and those who aren't too familiar with the technology.
Worries have also been raised about potential phone glitches or app failures.
While the new changes will not affect travellers heading on holidays this summer, experts are encouraging people to use this transition time to familiarize themselves with digital check-ins so they're well-adjusted before paper boarding passes are eliminated completely.
To avoid disruptions, travellers should ensure their mobile devices are fully charged before heading to the airport and, if possible, carry a portable charger with them.
It's also important to download all necessary beforehand rather than relying on internet access at the airport.
The findings are based on a random survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK during February 2025, representing a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.
Many travellers have openly shared their criticisms of Ryanair's move, with one saying: "What a . They are trying to make things difficult for absolutely no reason."
According to , one reader wrote: "... Not everyone has a smartphone or apps..." while another added, "Just Boycott them, go easyJet, Jet2 instead".