Ryanair plans to phase out the use of paper-based passenger boarding cards and airport check-in desks and have all passengers navigate their journey via the airline’s online app, group chief executive Michael O’Leary has said.
Mr O’Leary held a press conference in Dublin, this week, mainly to update on Ryanair’s position on the controversial passenger limit at Dublin Airport and the need for the Government to free up further slots at the hub.
However, touching on wider issues, Mr O’Leary said the aim is for Ryanair to remove hard copy boarding passes by Spring 2025.
Ultimately, Mr O’Leary said, Ryanair is aiming to move 100% to an online system, and remove the need for check-in desks – via its already existing and popular online passenger app; and the ability to check-in passengers at boarding gates, if necessary.
Currently, around 60% of Ryanair passengers use the app to book flights and check-in. The airline expects that amount to increase to around 80% by the end of this year.
Mr O’Leary said Ryanair hoped to be totally using its app capabilities for passenger check-ins by May of next year. He added that such a move would be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly and would do away with fines for passengers who forget their boarding passes.
