Cllrs hit out at Ryanair chief

Plans by Ryanair to eliminate paper boarding passes from next month have been criticised by the members of Cavan County Council.

The move to push digital passes by Ryan Air chief Michael O'Leary means that paper boarding passes, whether printed at home or elsewhere, will no longer be an option from November 12. Instead passengers will be required to use the Ryanair mobile app for a digital boarding pass or get one from the airport check-in desk.

The proposed change was criticised by local elected representatives as yet another example of the push towards an all-out digital economy.

Fianna Fáil's Philip Brady highlighted the recent announcement. He accepted that, while 80% of passengers now use digital passes, many older passengers still prefer having a paper boarding pass.

The Mullahoran man acknowledged that paper passes might be a greener option, though he questioned how much difference it really makes when boarding a plane.

He expressed his worry about the country rapidly moving towards a cashless society, emphasising that, while digital solutions are a wonderful development, common sense must also be applied. He urged Ryanair to allow older passengers to “continue using paper boarding passes” where necessary.

Independent councillor Brendan Fay echoed Cllr Brady's concerns.

He shared a personal experience from a recent trip during which he witnessed people in the departure lounge struggling and even “crying” because they couldn’t access their boarding passes on their phones. He himself couldn't acces his boarding pass when his phone died as he approached the gate, but was lucky to have access through his wife’s phone.

Cllr Fay also recalled a similar situation at Breffni Park, where digital tickets are only accepted on match days, a change he believes should be reviewed.

Fine Gael's T.P. O'Reilly weighed in, suggesting that Ryanair’s move is mainly a push to get people to download their app.

Fianna Fáil's Áine Smith said airline apps had some way to go before they could be fully trusted. She claimed that the Aer Lingus app, Ireland’s national airline, is difficult to use, and shared how she had forgotten her password and, after trying to reset it, never received the reset email.

Cllr Stiofán Conaty (SF) agreed, mentioning that he personally cannot book a flight on Aer Lingus because their system does not accept the Irish fada.

Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) also expressed her support for the motion.