Ryanair cancels paper boarding passes: what awaits passengers of other airlines.

According to The Sun: The RYANAIR Company announced plans to eliminate printed boarding passes by November 2025.

While digital boarding passes have become common practice among passengers, Ryanair has become the first airline to completely discard paper versions.

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This move is part of efforts to transition to paperless travel aimed at increasing efficiency and streamlining the boarding process.

This decision raised many questions among travelers about what types of boarding passes will be accepted. The Sun publication provides detailed information on the rules for various UK airlines.

alt='On the shoulders of a young Asian woman using a smartphone, checking a digital flight ticket and boarding pass on the device screen, packing a suitcase on a bed before the trip.' class='alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-36492063' width='960' height='640' /> The aviation industry is moving towards paperless travel Getty

Ryanair

Currently, the low-cost airline Ryanair accepts both printed and mobile boarding passes.

Passengers can download digital passes via the website or app, or print boarding passes at home on A4 sheets.

There is also an option to get a printed boarding pass at the check-in desk, but Ryanair charges a fee of £55 for this service.

All these options will change on November 3, 2025, when the company will no longer accept printed passes.

From that moment, passengers will be able to check in only using the digital pass in the myRyanair app, and there will be no printing service at the check-in desks.

According to Ryanair, this move will save 300 tons of paper, as 90% of passengers already use passes on their smartphones.

The company's CMO, Dara Brady, noted that this innovation will change the process for passengers, especially during disruptions, as it will allow up-to-date information to be sent directly to travelers' phones from the operations center, as well as offer alternative flights and accommodation options if necessary.

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Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary emphasized that in the case where a passenger's battery dies or their phone is lost, staff will still be able to allow them to board the flight.

However, in that case, passengers must check in online no later than two hours before arriving at the airport.

The only exceptions to the digital pass rules are passengers flying from airports in Morocco or Turkey (excluding Dalaman), as printed passes will still be required for them. Tirana Airport in Albania will also require paper boarding cards for a while after November 3, but this should change in March 2026.

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This new policy is part of a series of changes at Ryanair, including modernizing baggage policies and increasing financial rewards for employees who enforce baggage transport regulations.

easyJet

EasyJet currently accepts both digital and paper boarding passes and has not yet announced plans to ban printed options.

Passengers can arrive at the airport with already printed passes or receive them at the check-in desk.

Unlike Ryanair, easyJet does not charge for this service.

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However, if you make any changes to your booking after printing the boarding pass, you will need to re-check and get a new one.

These changes may include adding extra baggage or changing the passenger's name on the booking.

Those who choose a digital boarding pass should use downloads from the mobile app rather than attempting to open a PDF document on their phone, as it does not scan properly. Digital passes can also be stored in Apple or Google Wallet for convenience.

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The majority of airports served by easyJet accept mobile boarding passes; however, there are some exceptions:

• Izmir, Turkey
• Antalya, Turkey
• Agadir, Morocco
• Essaouira, Morocco
• Marrakech, Morocco
• Rabat Sale, Morocco
• Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh
• Egypt, Luxor
• Egypt, Marsa Alam
• Egypt, Hurghada
• Jordan, Aqaba
• Serbia, Belgrade
• Tunisia, Djerba
• Norway, Harstad
• Greece, Sitia
• Tunisia, Enfidha-Hammamet
• Sweden, Scandinavian Mountains

If you are departing from one of these airports, it is highly recommended to have a printed boarding pass with you.

Jet2

The British airline Jet2 also supports both mobile and printed boarding passes.

Passengers can check in through the Jet2 app and download their boarding pass six hours before departure.

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After this deadline, check-in should be done at the airport desk, but Jet2 will print your boarding pass for free.

Like Ryanair, Jet2 has flights from Turkey and Morocco, where physical tickets are still required. So don’t forget to download your digital pass if returning from these destinations.

The airline also offers a unique service called Resort Flight Check-In.

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This service allows travelers who have booked trips only through Jet2holidays to check in for their flight from the hotel.

This means hotel staff can also help you print your boarding pass if needed.

Wizz Air

The low-cost airline Wizz Air typically allows the use of both paper and digital boarding passes.

However, some airports do not support the mobile option. The Wizz Air website has a handy tool to check which airports will require physical boarding passes, so you can print them in advance.

If you cannot print your boarding pass yourself, Wizz Air will charge €40 (approximately £35) for printing at the check-in desk.

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You can reduce this fee to €13 (approximately £11) if you pre-order the service online.

Two exceptions:

• Agadir, Morocco
• Zaragoza, Spain

At these airports, online check-in is not available, so you will need to check-in at the desk, where printing of boarding passes is offered for free.