Lorraine Williamson
End of the physical boarding pass, for almost all destinations. From May 2025, you will only be able to check in via the app or via the internet.
With this, the airline wants to take a step in the further digitalization of aviation. According to the group’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, the Irish airline also plans to phase out check-in counters at airports.
Majority already check in with Ryanair with smartphone
Currently, 60% of Ryanair passengers use the airline’s website or mobile app. The boarding pass is currently printed or scanned via a digital QR code.
O’Leary, who announced these measures at an event in Dublin, aims for this figure to rise to 80% soon. “Our goal is to abolish the check-in desks at the airport, just as we have done with the baggage counters. From now on, everything will be done via the app, which will make the process completely digital, and we will no longer work with paper.”
Ryanair’s new initiative is not yet feasible everywhere, at least not in some of the countries where the company operates. For example, in Morocco, Turkey or Albania, printing the physical card is a requirement.
The smartphone, indispensable to be able to board
As part of these changes, passengers will no longer have the option to check in at the airport gates, even if they pay an additional fee. The airline also plans to stop accepting credit card payments for airport check-in services.
For passengers who do not have a smartphone, the airline has a solution. O’Leary noted that they can ask someone else to borrow a device to access their boarding pass. Ryanair assures that passengers will not miss their flights due to technical problems with mobile devices, as boarding passes are still available at the gate if needed.