Ryanair confirms exceptions to new '100% paperless' boarding rule

Ryanair made headlines Wednesday with plans for a "100% paperless" system for boarding passes. The Irish low-cost carrier will adopt an app-only policy from November 3. It says all passengers will have to use the digital boarding pass generated in the airline’s ‘myRyanair’ app. Physical boarding passes — including those currently printed at home — will no longer be an option. However, Skift has learned that there will be exceptions to the seemingly strict new rule. Put simply, Ryanair’s paperless push will ultimately be outside its control. As the airline itself acknowledges, not all airports in its network accept digital boarding passes. The carrier’s website says none of its Turkish airports, except Dalaman, offer mobile options. All Moroccan airports also require traditional paper passes, as well as routes to the UK from the Albanian capital, Tirana. Ryanair's website currently advises: “Customers traveling from these airports must check-in online and print out a paper boarding pass for their flight(s).” A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed to Skift that exceptions will be made for "operational reasons" at airports that do not recognize digital boarding passes. The airline said it will notify passengers flying on affected routes ahead of departure. While Ryanair's exposure to the Turkish market is limited, it is a much bigger player in Morocco where it flies from 13 airports. This includes the key leisure markets of Marrakech and Agadir. Skift analysis of Cirium Diio data suggests Ryanair will offer more than 110,000 seats a week from Morocco in November onboard more than 580 weekly flights. This means almost half a million passengers each month could still be using paper boarding passes.<br/>