In a sharp statement, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, in the face of the abolition of printed boarding passes from Wednesday, November 12, defends digital procedures in air transport.
Anyone who doesn’t check in online is “either an idiot or simply ignored our instructions via email,” O’Leary told the Telegraph.
From Wednesday, boarding passes printed at home will not be accepted, but passengers will need to “download” them to their mobile phones via the Ryanair app and present them when asked through it.
The company claims that the change will “improve the passenger experience” and help reduce costs and paper usage, estimating that more than 300 tons of paper will be saved annually.
However, organizations defending older people are concerned that the decision will exclude those who do not have sufficient digital skills.
Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, reminds that about 4 million Britons have never used the internet.
“No one will be left behind,” Ryanair responds
O’Leary, known for his sharp statements, rejected the criticism, describing it as excessive. He said that it was an insult to claim that the over-50s cannot use a mobile phone when more than 90% of the airline’s passengers already travel with digital boarding passes.
However, passengers who still do not issue boarding passes in this way, if they check in online before arriving at the airport, will be able to receive them free of charge at the counter.
On the other hand, those who show up without having completed online check-in will be charged an additional fee of £55. Ryanair’s CEO says that passengers are notified by SMS and two emails, 48 ??and 24 hours before the flight’s departure.
The abolition of printed boarding passes is a pioneering decision by Ryanair, since competitors such as easyJet, Wizz Air, Jet2.com or British Airways have not taken similar measures.
