Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, has confirmed that it will switch entirely to digital boarding passes from Wednesday, 12 November, a slight delay from the initially planned 3 November. The decision has been timed to coincide with a quieter travel period following the mid-term break, allowing passengers a smoother transition.
From the announced date, travellers will no longer be able to print physical boarding passes. Instead, all passengers must use the digital pass generated through the airline’s “myRyanair” app during check-in to gain access to their flights.
The move forms part of Ryanair’s broader digital transformation, which has already introduced numerous app-based features aimed at improving the passenger experience, particularly during disruptions. Notable innovations include “Order to Seat,” which allows travellers to order food and drinks via their phones; live flight updates on gate changes and boarding; and direct disruption notifications from the airline’s Operations Centre.
Currently, almost 80% of Ryanair passengers already use digital boarding passes, reflecting a growing trend across ticketed industries such as festivals, music concerts, and sports events, which have embraced digital-only ticketing to streamline operations.
Ryanair Chief Marketing Officer Dara Brady said: “To ensure a seamless transition to 100% digital boarding passes, we will make the switch on 12 November, traditionally a slightly quieter time for travel. This change will create a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience, all through our best-in-class ‘myRyanair’ app, where passengers can also enjoy helpful features like Order to Seat and live flight updates.”