Portugal Blocks Ryanair's Digital-Only Check-In, Keeps Paper Passes Free

Portugal’s leading aviation watchdog has stepped in just days before the winter‐sun travel rush, telling Ryanair that passengers who still rely on paper boarding passes must be allowed to fly and, crucially, that no fee may be demanded for the privilege. The ruling goes further than a simple slap on the wrist. It forces the Irish low-cost carrier to rethink a plan, announced for mid-November, that would have made digital check-in the sole gateway to the aircraft door.

Regulator draws a line in the boarding queue

The Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil, or ANAC, invoked European consumer law to insist that a confirmed reservation and successful online check-in are enough to guarantee boarding, whether the pass lives on a phone screen or on a sheet of A4. ANAC warned that any attempt to refuse passengers or to charge for printing would constitute an “unlawful barrier to transport” and could attract substantial penalties. Although the agency did not specify the size of a possible fine, it has powers to impose six-figure sanctions and even restrict flight schedules for repeat offenders.

What changes for passengers flying from Lisbon, Porto and Faro

For travellers departing Portuguese airports, the immediate impact is clear. Anyone whose smart-phone battery dies, whose handset is stolen in the terminal or who simply prefers a hard copy can approach Ryanair’s counters and request a printed pass free of charge. Normal airport check-in fees will still apply to those who arrive without having completed the online process, but ANAC made it explicit that the mere act of printing a document after online check-in cannot be monetised. The decision resonates particularly with senior travellers, families and school groups, segments that statisticians say are less comfortable relying solely on mobile apps.

Ryanair’s response and the fine print

Ryanair’s communications team issued a short statement accepting the directive while repeating that the carrier’s “preferred channel remains the mobile boarding pass”. The company promised that counters dedicated to emergency re-prints will remain open at all Portuguese gateways. It also confirmed that certain destinations—notably Morocco, where border police still stamp paper passes—will see no change to existing procedures. Behind the public compliance, however, executives continue to argue that a fully digital model would save time at the gate and reduce costs, savings the airline insists are passed back to customers through lower fares.

Wider European context and previous rulings

The Portuguese showdown is the latest skirmish in a broader European battle over digital-only travel services. Earlier this year, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that a boarding pass—whether electronic or printed—constitutes sufficient proof of a contract of carriage when passengers claim compensation for delays. Regulators in Spain and Italy have already warned carriers against imposing mandatory app-based boarding, citing both accessibility and data-privacy concerns. Industry analysts note that Ryanair’s Portuguese reversal is likely to set a precedent that other jurisdictions may cite in future disputes.

Digital convenience versus inclusion debate

Aviation economists concede that digital passes shave seconds off boarding times and eliminate toner and paper. Yet consumer advocates argue that a “phones-only” rule amounts to technological discrimination. Portugal’s Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados has also raised questions about mandatory app downloads, suggesting that passengers should not be forced to hand over behavioural data simply to exercise their right to mobility. The ANAC decision gives weight to that argument, reaffirming that universality of access remains a cornerstone of public transport policy even in the smartphone era.

What happens next

ANAC officials say they will monitor Ryanair flights in the coming weeks to ensure immediate compliance. Should inspectors find passengers being turned away or surcharged, the carrier could face an injunction and daily penalties. For now, Portuguese travellers gain a small but significant victory: freedom to choose between pixels and paper without fear that the choice will ground their holiday or inflate their fare.