Ryanair’s CEO has warned passengers that the budget airline is getting rid of paper boarding passes at the start of its winter schedule.
Michael O’Leary has revealed that the majority of Ryanair customers already use their mobile phones for their tickets and the airline is now pushing everyone to follow suit.
Earlier this year, the airline told its 200 million passengers that they will no longer be able to download and print a physical boarding pass from November 3, and will instead use a digital pass generated in the myRyanair app during check-in.
“At the moment, between 85 and 90 per cent of passengers show up with smartphones,” Mr O'Leary told travel journalist Simon Calder on his podcast.
“Almost 100 per cent of passengers have smartphones, and we want to move everybody onto that the smartphone technology.”
He continued: “If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you've checked in before you got to the airport, we'll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge.
“But you have to have checked in before you got to the airport.”
The CEO also reassured customers if their phone battery dies, the sequence number should still be available in Ryanair’s systems.
Mr O’Leary instructed passengers: “Just make sure you check in online before you get to the airport and then all will be fine.”
The move to digital boarding passes is expected to remove all check-in fees for customers.
The change is also expected to save over 300 tonnes in paper waste each year.
Ryanair also hopes that the shift to its app will be particularly useful to passengers during disruption, as the airline will be able to provide real-time updates on passengers’ phones.
The airline has said that it will also be able to provide customers with alternative flight options, and it can offer transfers or hotel accommodation options when needed.
Rules on digital boarding passes may still vary depending on a country’s rules.
Destinations including Morocco and Albania require passengers to print their boarding passes.
Mr O'Leary revealed Ryanair has “reached an agreement” with Albania, meaning from March boarding passes there will be digital.
However, Morocco still insists on paper, and the airline will continue to accept paper boarding passes there.
