Copyright theleader
Starting Wednesday, November 12, budget airline Ryanair will no longer accept paper boarding passes, marking the company’s full transition to digital travel. From that date, passengers will be required to use electronic boarding passes available through the “myRyanair” mobile app to check in and board their flights. The airline has been preparing for the change for some time, though the move has been delayed a few times. The rollout was originally planned for earlier this month to coincide with the start of Ryanair’s winter campaign but was pushed back to mid-November to ensure a smoother transition. Ryanair says the decision is part of its broader digital transformation strategy, aimed at streamlining the travel experience for its more than 206 million annual passengers. The airline promises that going fully digital will result in faster boarding, fewer queues, and a more environmentally friendly process. Nearly 80% of Ryanair customers already use digital passes, making this shift a “natural next step,” according to the company. Other industries—from music festivals to major sporting events—have successfully gone fully digital, and Ryanair believes air travel is ready to follow suit. The airline has also enhanced its app in recent years, adding features such as “Order to Seat,” which lets passengers order food and drinks directly from their phone, and “Live Flight Information,” providing real-time updates on gate changes, delays, and boarding times. Travellers also receive direct notifications from Ryanair’s Operations Centre about any disruptions. Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Dara Brady, described the move as a step toward a “faster, smarter, and greener travel experience.” He added, “By switching after the busy mid-term period, we’re ensuring a seamless transition for our customers, who will now benefit from a fully integrated digital journey through our best-in-class app.” As paper passes become a thing of the past, Ryanair passengers are encouraged to download or update the myRyanair app before their next flight to avoid any travel hiccups this winter. If passengers don’t have a smartphone or tablet, as long as they have already checked-in online before arriving at the airport, they will receive a free of charge boarding pass at the airport. However, they will not be able to access real-time flight updates or benefit from enhanced customer service during any flight disruptions.
