Ryanair switches to fully digital boarding passes, phases out printed ones

Ryanair has announced that it will no longer accept printed boarding passes at airports, moving entirely to digital check-ins from Wednesday. The airline said the shift aims to make travel faster, reduce costs, and promote a more efficient and eco-friendly process.

The low-cost carrier, which serves over 206 million passengers annually, said that all travellers must now check in online before arriving at the airport. Passengers who do not check in online will be required to pay an airport check-in fee of up to £55.

According to the airline, around 90% of its customers already use digital boarding passes, making the transition a natural step. Ryanair confirmed that passengers who have checked in online but are unable to access their boarding pass on a smartphone, for example, due to battery failure, can obtain a paper version at the airport free of charge. The previous £20 charge for this service has been scrapped.


A Ryanair spokesperson said the move will “streamline the boarding process, reduce costs, and contribute to a greener travel experience.”

However, the new policy has one exception. Flights to and from Morocco will continue to require paper boarding passes, in line with the country’s aviation regulations. For these routes, passengers can still collect their boarding passes at the airport after completing online check-in.

Ryanair added that airport check-in desks will remain available for passengers who need assistance, although the airline expects the majority of its customers to transition smoothly to digital boarding.

The move places Ryanair among a growing number of transport and event operators adopting digital-only systems to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.