This airline is scrapping paper boarding passes completely
It's the obligatory holiday photo people love sending to friends from the airport - a boarding pass, often accompanied by a glass of champagne, that signals adventure awaits.
That might soon be a thing of the past, with news one major airline has confirmed they're set to scrap paper boarding passes by the end of the year.
Budget airline Ryanair has revealed passengers will be required to have digital boarding passes issued through its app by November 2025, in a delay to the original May date the company had set for the change.
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Paper boarding passes are set to be a thing of the past. Getty
Why ditch paper boarding passes?
According to the airline, one of the main reasons behind the change is environmental, with a saving of over 300 tonnes in paper waste each year.
In addition, passengers will be required to download boarding passes via Ryanair's app, with hopes that this will help streamline customer experience by allowing them to keep their travel documents in one place, as well as receive information such as live flight updates.
"As well as being better for the environment, using the myRyanair app also enhances customers' travel experience as they benefit from a range of helpful in-app features and initiatives (especially during disruption)," the airline said in a statement.
The effect on passengers
According to Ryanair, 80 percent of their 200 million passengers already use digital boarding passes.
And in news that's set to please budget-conscious travellers, Ryanair will pass on savings made from ditching the tedious check-in process.
"As a result of this customer initiative, Ryanair expects to eliminate almost all airport check-in fees from November 2025, as all passengers will have checked-in online/in-app to generate their digital boarding pass," said the statement.
Budget airline Ryanair have delayed the roll-out date of their paperless initiative from May to November. Getty
The downsides
While this sounds like a great idea in theory, many travellers are worried about the fallout of going completely paperless.
Users in one Reddit thread pointed out that those without smartphones or people who struggle with technology might be negatively impacted.
"Good luck to everyone who arranges their older relatives' travel plans," said one Reddit user.
One upside: you'll never have to worry about losing your boarding pass again. Getty
"I know my parents wouldn't be very comfortable with an app or using their phone for it," added another. "When they travelled last week, I had them have printed out boarding passes."
Another concern is phones running out of battery while in transit, or people who might have lost or misplaced their phone.
"I lost my phone before a flight home from Croatia," revealed one Reddit user. "They had to print me off a paper boarding pass. What happens if your phone gets lost or stolen?"
While the airline has yet to address any of these concerns, it's believed the delay in going paperless to November - and coinciding with the less-busy winter travel period -will help with the transition.
