Ryanair to shift to 100% digital boarding passes, defends move amid age-access concerns

Ryanair will switch to 100% digital boarding passes from November 12, a move the airline says will speed up boarding and reduce paper use, but one that has drawn criticism from campaigners who argue it could disadvantage some older travelers.

CEO Michael O’Leary defended the plan, noting that his 86-year-old mother uses the Ryanair app to travel. "I'm old, and I travel from Ryanair on a very, very regular basis, and I use the Ryanair app, it is pretty simple, pretty easy to use." He said that no passenger would be cut off at the knees and that the airline would be reasonably forgiving of those who turn up with paper boarding passes during the Christmas period and into January. "The critical thing: If you've checked online before you get there and you lose your phone, we'll have your name in the system," he said. "We will manually board you at the boarding gate so if your phone goes off, you lose your phone, your phone gets stolen, it is not going to make any issue as long as you checked in online before you got the boarding gate, which, by the way, would eliminate all the check-in fees at the airport." O’Leary added that older travelers often have family members handle bookings at first, and then gradually adopt mobile technology themselves, calling the notion that older people cannot adjust "slightly patronising" and insisting the demographic would adapt.

Ryanair confirmed the shift to digital boarding passes on November 12, with chief marketing officer Dara Brady saying the move will deliver a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for customers through the airline’s myRyanair app, which offers features such as Order to Seat and live flight information. "To ensure a seamless transition to 100 per cent digital boarding passes for our customers, we will make the switch from November 12, which is traditionally a slightly quieter time for travel following the busy mid-term break period," Brady said. "Ryanair’s move to 100 per cent digital boarding passes will mean a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class ‘myRyanair’ app."

Industry data show that almost 80% of Ryanair’s 206 million annual passengers already use digital boarding passes. The airline frames the change as part of a broader shift toward digital ticketing seen in events, music, and sport sectors, touting benefits for efficiency and the environment.

The move to full digital boarding passes comes amid a wider industry trend toward mobile credentials, a shift that proponents say speeds up check-in and reduces paper waste. However, critics have warned that rapid rollout must include safeguards for passengers who lack reliable smartphone access or who rely on printed passes or in-person assistance at the airport. Campaigners have described the policy as a potential barrier to some older travelers and a test of whether customer convenience can trump inclusivity. In the broader travel context, Ryanair has framed the change as a step toward a more seamless and environmentally friendly operation while acknowledging the need to support customers through the transition.