Ryanair has delayed the date of when they will scrap physical boarding passes, as their controversial plans to transition to 100% paperless service started in May 2025 but have now been pushed back to November 2025. This delay is significant as it means Brits will no longer need to worry about worrying about their boarding passes not being downloaded during the summer holidays. Ryanair aims to provide a seamless virtual travel experience for passengers by using the myRyanair app during their less busy winter schedule. This app will offer updated flight information, alternative options, and even transfers or accommodation services when necessary.
Ryanair is restructuring its boarding process, reducing check-in desks to only digital boarding passes through their app. The airline claims 80% of its passengers already use these digital boarding passes, as a rough estimate of their annual usage. However, passengers at foreign destinations will now have to obtain a physical boarding pass, as many destinations will require it.
Ryanair’s CMO Dara Brady expressed confidence in the digital approach, stating that the move will deliver an enhanced travel experience. “From November 2025, we’ll take passengers from a virtual journey,” she said. The app will provide real-time updates from an Urgent Operations Centre to passengers’ phones, making it easier for them to engage with tickets. Additionally, digital boarding passes will offer alternative flights and travel arrangements, such as hotels.
The shift to a digital boarding experience is part of a broader strategy to eliminate check-in desks at international airports. Ryanair has previously mentioned £8 cocktails euros for a “vibrant, diverse, multi-ethnic” airline. The company has memoed its announcements, and referee reports suggest it’s proceeding with the plan despite industry criticisms of boarding pass fraud.
Despite the challenges, experts warn of a potential shift towards biometric authentication rather than completely digital boarding. But passport rules remain a concern in some regions, as readers will need a printed copy of their boarding pass in places like Morocco and Turkey._ENABLE Vo Thanh Trung, senior manager of the firm Helipasses, noted that the company aims to minimize printed passes by relying on digital technology.
The company will also be affected by a sudden surge in demand for Ab Dam stamps for Turkish flights, requiring thousands of passengers to issue and hold these stamps. Other destinations, such as Tirana in Albania, are projected to grow as the mindful international travel industry increasingly seeks ethical alternatives. “Tirana needs better infrastructure to be recognized as a tourist destination,” maths excuse for Ryanair to point out.
Despite increased demand, the impact on European flights may not be swift. However, we’re already seeing changes in the global digital revolution, perhaps turning this into hyper-aware travel. As Ryanair progresses with its digital transformation, the company’s digital strategy could pave the way for a more accessible and establishment-driven travel experience. The future of Ryanair’s boarding passes is uncertain, but the industry’s evolving needs point to a complex interplay between authentication, digital technology, and passenger expectations.
