The boss of Ryanair has announced his intention to eliminate paper boarding passes and remove check in desks at the airport within months.
Passengers will need to check in online or on the app before arriving at the airport as Michael O’ Leary aims to have the desks gone from May.
Travellers are strongly encouraged to check-in for their flight online or with the app with those who don’t hit with a £55 charge at the airport.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin today, the budget airline CEO said he will get rid of ticket desks and then “there’s no reason to charge people for airport check-in”.
It means any passenger who doesn’t own a smartphone will be unable to board a Ryanair flight.
“We want to get rid of airport checks in the same way we got rid of bag [desks]. We are working towards from May 1 that everything will be done on the app, nothing will be done on paper anymore,” said Mr O’Leary.
“I have been reluctant to go on the app because I am terrified to get on a flight without a piece of paper, but it works so well. [The app] tells you your gate and if there is a delay.
“The customers who want the piece of paper are the same demographic that when we first moved over to the internet they wouldn’t move over but were then the first ones to switch to the internet for cheaper airfares.”
He added there are already procedures in place if a phone battery dies and people are unable to access their booking information.
He said: “If your battery dies we have your seat and your passport and we can do that at the boarding gates at the moment.
“We sometimes do that if someone’s phone doesn’t scan for some reason. Once we have the name and passport that’s fine but everyone will be on the app.”
Mr O’Leary said currently 60% of passengers are using the app, and he expects this to rise to 80% by the end of the year. By May, customers will have no other choice but to use it.
