Digitalization has finally reached airline tickets: Ryanair passengers will no longer be able to obtain a paper ticket.
As many of us remember, it used to be possible to get a printed ticket at the check-in desk. Standing in the airport with a physical ticket in hand felt reassuring — whatever happened, you still had your ticket. It was almost a guarantee of boarding.
But with artificial intelligence and digital technologies advancing on all fronts, getting a traditional paper ticket has become virtually impossible. Online check-in has become mandatory.
Perhaps this is more convenient for some people — or is it? Others may still use a basic mobile phone or might run out of battery at the worst moment.
Ryanair claims the change will save 300 tonnes of paper a year. Let’s do the math: if one ticket weighs about 2 grams, that comes to roughly 150 million Ryanair tickets — which fits the official statement.
But will nobody miss a flight because of those two grams of paper? You can’t book a paper plane ticket anymore!
To avoid unpleasant situations, the airline says it will reissue boarding passes at the airport if a passenger has phone problems. However, it is crucial to complete online check-in in advance.
In any case, time will tell whether the new system is truly convenient. The new rules came into effect on 12 November 2025.
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