Ryanair, the leading budget airline, is on the verge of revolutionizing air travel with its ambitious plan to scrap paper boarding passes and airport check-in desks by May 2025. This significant shift aims to streamline the passenger experience, transitioning to digital-only procedures and positioning Ryanair as the first airline worldwide to adopt entirely paperless boarding.
Michael O’Leary, the airline’s CEO, expressed his confidence at a recent conference, stating the move would make travel "smoother" and "easier" for all passengers.
Currently, travelers are required to check-in online, and only Flexi Plus ticket holders can check-in at the airport without incurring additional fees. With the new system, all passengers must download the Ryanair app or visit the website to obtain their digital boarding pass.
"We want to get rid of airport checks in the same way we got rid of bag [desks]," O'Leary remarked. He believes the new system will eliminate the need for printed documents entirely, allowing technological advancements to take full effect. Passengers worried about relying solely on their phones can rest assured, as O'Leary assured them, "If your battery dies we have your seat and your passport... we can do this at the boarding gates."
Currently, around 60% of Ryanair passengers utilize the app for their boarding passes, but O'Leary anticipates this figure will surge to 80% by the end of 2024. Eventually, he expects full compliance, with all passengers adopting the app by spring 2025.
The financial incentives are notable, too: at present, passengers failure to check-in online face penalties of £55 if they opt to obtain their boarding passes at the airport. With the phasing out of check-in desks and paper boarding passes, O'Leary argues there would be no fees associated with obtaining boarding passes, as all would be processed electronically through mobile devices.
Ryanair's decision aligns with its strategy to encourage digital engagement among its travelers. Nevertheless, it’s important to note some potential hurdles; certain airports located in Turkey (excluding Dalaman), Morocco, and Tirana in Albania do not currently accept mobile boarding passes. Ryanair has urged passengers planning to fly from these airports to be aware of potential limitations before their journeys.
Despite these limitations, O'Leary emphasizes the advantages of using the official Ryanair app over screenshots of boarding passes. This new direction is more than just keeping up with trends; it's about making air travel more efficient and cost-effective for travelers. O'Leary added, "The customers who want the piece of paper are the same demographic... when we first moved over to the internet they wouldn’t move over but were then the first ones to switch to the internet for cheaper airfares." This reflects not only changing consumer behaviors but also greater acceptance of technology within the aviation sector.
Ryanair is betting on the adoption of digital boarding passes, and time will tell how this plan will influence the travel experiences of millions. The airline's transformative plan is setting the stage for potential changes across the industry as companies adapt to similar operations.