Portugal Orders Ryanair to Accept Printed Boarding Passes

A handful of travellers arriving at Lisbon, Porto or Faro this week discovered that the smartphone-only future promised by Ryanair still meets an immovable wall: Portugal’s own civil-aviation watchdog. In a rare public dressing-down, the regulator told Europe’s largest low-cost carrier that a confirmed booking and an online check-in are all a passenger needs to board, whether the boarding pass is glowing on a screen or printed on a crumpled sheet.

Snapshot

Ryanair’s plan to outlaw paper passes from 12 November runs straight into an order from ANAC, Portugal’s National Civil Aviation Authority, instructing the airline to accept printed documents, waive any reissue fees, and ensure that “no passenger is left behind” for lack of battery life. Consumer group DECO calls the move a victory for those who still distrust or cannot access digital services, while Ryanair insists it never meant to charge for a quick printout at the airport. For Portuguese residents who treat Málaga or Paris as a weekend commute, the message is simple: bring your phone, but keep a plan B in your pocket.

Regulator draws the line

ANAC’s notice, delivered quietly but firmly, relies on the broad principle that airlines operating in Portugal must not create discriminatory obstacles. By invoking both national consumer statutes and the EU’s Regulation 261/2004, the authority reminds carriers that refusal of boarding for paperwork reasons is legally equivalent to an overbooked seat. That exposes airlines to potential compensation, reputational harm and, in extreme cases, administrative fines. The agency says it will “monitor compliance” throughout the winter schedule, an unusually public warning that signals zero tolerance for surprise fees at the gate.

Ryanair’s digital drive – and its limits

From the airline’s perspective, pushing everyone onto the myRyanair app means shorter queues, lower staff costs and fewer tonnes of wasted paper. Executives publicise the shift as a green measure—each boarding pass eliminated supposedly saves three grams of CO₂—and note that every major airport scans QR codes today. Yet Ryanair’s own small print now includes an explicit carve-out: if a traveller has checked in online but cannot display the pass, staff must provide a replacement “free of charge”. The sole exception involves routes touching Morocco, where local authorities still demand a stamped paper-stub. Even there, ANAC’s order applies on the Portuguese side of the journey, illustrating how fragmented the digital transformation remains.

What Brussels says – and what is still coming

Although no single European rule states that airlines must honour paper boarding passes, forthcoming reforms aim to close that gap. The European Commission’s draft overhaul of passenger-rights legislation, slated for adoption in 2026, explicitly guarantees a choice between digital and physical formats “without surcharge”. MEPs have already questioned Ryanair’s policy, citing concerns over age, disability and digital exclusion. Until the new law lands, regulators such as ANAC rely on broader consumer-protection clauses and on the spirit of non-discrimination embedded in EU treaties. Industry lobby IATA meanwhile champions global standards for bar-coded passes but concedes that some jurisdictions will “require flexibility for the foreseeable future.”

How other airlines handle the same dilemma

Portugal’s flag-carrier TAP, the hybrid low-cost easyJet, Spanish rival Vueling and budget player Wizz Air all tout paper-saving apps, yet none bans a traveller from showing an A4 print-out. TAP even keeps airport check-in free, a point it markets as part of its premium identity. EasyJet charges up to €45 for walk-up check-in but still prints boarding passes on request. Vueling allows home-printed passes throughout its network. Wizz Air imposes a stiff €30 if you forget your PDF, underscoring how the industry’s hunger for ancillary revenue co-exists with regulators’ push for accessibility.

Practical pointers for Portugal-based flyers

Before leaving for the airport, travellers should verify that their online check-in succeeded and store a screenshot or download the PDF version; that satisfies both Ryanair’s terms and ANAC’s edict. Those worried about a dying battery can still approach a check-in desk for a complimentary reprint, provided the online step is complete. Passengers who skip digital check-in altogether remain liable for the well-known €55 counter fee. Crucially, anyone denied boarding because staff refuse a paper pass should demand a written incident report and file a complaint with ANAC within 30 days.

Looking ahead

The tussle between a fast-moving low-cost giant and Portugal’s steady-handed regulator offers a preview of coming debates across Europe. Digital identity wallets, smartphone-based travel documents and automatic border gates are inching toward reality, yet the humble paper boarding pass is not dead. For now, Portuguese law assures that ink on paper still carries legal weight, even as Ryanair paints a future built on pixels. The takeaway for travellers is pragmatic: embrace the convenience of mobile tech, but never assume the infrastructure—or your device—will cooperate from check-in to gate B24.