Ryanair will no longer use paper boarding passes from November, the Irish low-cost airline announced on Wednesday.
In October, Ryanair revealed its intention to eliminate printed boarding passes to reduce costs. The initial plan was to make the transition in May, but the airline will now implement the change six months later.
From 3 November, passengers will only be able to access their boarding passes digitally via the Ryanair app. These can be shown on smartphones or other electronic devices. Ryanair reports that nearly 80% of its 200 million passengers already use digital boarding passes.
Eliminating paper boarding passes is a cost-saving measure for Ryanair. The airline currently charges extra fees for passengers who check in at the airport counter. However, the airline expects that almost all check-in charges will disappear once everyone uses digital boarding passes.
Ryanair also claims that this measure will reduce its passengers’ ecological footprint by avoiding 300 tonnes of paper waste annually. Additionally, the app offers extra features, such as updates to the boarding pass if the gate changes.
The airline notes that passengers who have already checked in with a digital boarding pass will receive assistance for free if they lose their smartphone or if it runs out of battery.
