The company estimates that 80% of its customers already use digital boarding passes. Further seat cuts in Spain for the 2026-2027 winter season are expected.
As of Wednesday, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair will only accept digital boarding passes, meaning that passengers traveling with the airline will no longer be able to download and print a physical boarding pass.
This is a measure that Ryanair had planned to implement on November 3 and delayed to ensure "a smooth transition" for customers during the slower period after the mid-quarter vacations.
With this decision, Ryanair customers will be required to use the digital boarding pass generated in their "myRyanair" application during check-in to board their flight.
In a statement, the Irish company said its decision follows in the footsteps of other ticketing industries, such as festivals, music and sporting events, arguing that the change has been "successful". It also noted that almost 80% of its customers already use this type of boarding pass.
"Moving to a fully digital system means a faster, smarter and more sustainable experience for passengers, as well as offering easier access to a number of innovative in-app features, such as 'Order from your seat,' real-time flight information and direct updates during incidents," said chief marketing officer Dara Brady.
Ryanair threatens more seat cuts in Spain
Meanwhile, the airline is considering further capacity reductions at regional airports in Spain in the 2026-2027 winter season after cutting three million seats since the summer of 2024, CEO Eddie Wilson told EFE in an interview.
Very critical of Aena and the rates it charges airlines, mainly at secondary airports, he assures that the airport model in Spain is "broken" because except for Madrid, Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, the rest of the airports "are empty". "Next winter looks bad," said Wilson, adding that "probably" they will cut seats again: "It is inevitable because they are not doing anything with prices".
The Irish airline remains perpetually in controversy due to its moves and measures. One of the latest was the announcement of the suspension of flights from Tenerife North and Vigo and to Zaragoza, Asturias and Vitoria, which will take effect from this winter. In addition, they confirmed that they will remain without flights in Valladolid and Jerez, as happened during the summer, and will close their two-plane base in Santiago.
According to Ryanair, they will reduce their capacity in the autumn and winter season by 41% from mainland airports, about 600,000 seats, and by 10% from the Canary Islands, 400,000 seats. In total, there are one million fewer seats, more than the 800,000 seats cut during the summer, which will be diverted to other countries such as Italy and Morocco.
"We are committed to Spain. The problem is that the government doesn't seem to be. They are not committed to their regional airports," according to Wilson.
Originally published: November 12, 2025; 10:41 GMT+2
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