As of November 12, passengers flying with Ryanair are required to use digital boarding passes to board their flights.
According to the airline, gone are the days of paper boarding passes. Now, after checking in for their Ryanair flight, travelers will have access to their boarding pass on the carrier’s “myRyanair” app. Then, using the latter, jet-setters will need to present their boarding passes at the airport in order to hit the skies.
On the first day that the carrier made the rule effective, Ryanair says it served over 100,000 passengers across 700 flights throughout Europe. The airline further noted that “Over 98% of passengers presented with their DBP (digital boarding pass), and the other 2% — all of whom had checked in online before arriving at the airport — were issued free of charge boarding passes at airport ticket desks.”
What Else Is There To Know About Ryanair’s Official Switch To Digital Boarding Passes?
Some may find Ryanair’s move controversial, as it could potentially complicate travel for the elderly, those who struggle with using technology, and those without smartphones. In an early November statement shared by the airline, the carrier’s Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Dara Brady, said that prior to requiring digital boarding passes, 80% of Ryanair’s customers were already using their electronic travel document to catch flights. For context, the airline says it serves over 207 million passengers annually.
Brady’s statement highlighted that Ryanair’s “progressive change” would impact the “small number of passengers” who still print their boarding passes.
“Moving fully digital means a faster, smarter, and greener experience for passengers, whilst also providing easier access to a range of innovative in-app features, including ‘Order to Seat,’ live flight information, and direct updates during disruption. We look forward to delivering an enhanced travel experience for 100% of our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class myRyanair app,” said Brady.
In a separate press release, the CMO said that Ryanair believes its digital boarding pass initiative “will save up to €40M annually, and this will help us to lower ticket prices and make air travel more competitive for Ryanair’s customers.”
Ryanair Holdings PLC (aka Ryanair Group) is based in Ireland and is Europe’s largest airline group. It is the parent company of five carriers: Buzz, Lauda, Malta Air, Ryanair DAC, and Ryanair UK.
