Have you ever lost your boarding pass or had your phone app freeze at the worst moment? Sound familiar? Well, that stress might soon be a thing of the past.
According to Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, airline boarding passes are set to vanish within the next five years, replaced by fingerprint scans, facial recognition, and even iris scans.
Yep, the future of air travel is looking a lot more like a sci-fi movie—and a lot less like the crumpled paper chaos we’re used to.
Goodbye, Paper Passes. Hello, Biometrics!
Over the past two decades, we’ve witnessed a gradual shift from paper tickets to digital boarding passes on our phones.
But Riyadh Air, a new Saudi Arabian airline launching this summer, is taking things to the next level.
They’re ditching physical documents altogether and going fully digital.
No more printing boarding passes or scrambling to find your phone at the gate. Instead, you’ll simply scan your fingerprint, face, or eye, and voilà—you’re on your way.
Tony Douglas, the brains behind Riyadh Air, compares the new system to the convenience of apps like Uber and Amazon.
“We’re not starting with a legacy system, existing airlines are trying to bridge a gap, and it’s going to take three to five years for most of them.”
Why the Switch?
Let’s be real: the current system isn’t exactly seamless.
Lost boarding passes and app glitches are just a few of the headaches travelers face. Riyadh Air’s new system, developed with San Francisco-based tech firm Flyr, aims to fix all that.
Imagine being able to book flights for your entire family traveling from different cities, all in one go. Or splitting payments with friends without the hassle.
It’s like online shopping, but for travel.
And Riyadh Air isn’t the only one pushing for a paperless future.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has also announced plans to eliminate paper boarding passes by May 2025.
For Ryanair, this means everything will be done through their app—no exceptions. While this might be great news for tech-savvy travelers, it could leave those without smartphones (or those who just prefer paper) in a tough spot.
The Pros and Cons of Going Digital
There’s no denying the convenience of biometrics and digital systems:
- They’re faster: No more fumbling with documents or waiting in long lines at check-in.
- They’re more secure: Your face or fingerprint is much harder to fake than a piece of paper.
But, as with any major change, there are downsides:
- Privacy concerns: Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of their biometric data being stored and used. Data breaches seem to happen every other week, making security a big deal.
- Accessibility issues: Older adults or those without smartphones could struggle in a fully digital system, potentially making travel more difficult instead of easier.
- Tech reliability: Phones run out of battery, apps crash, and Wi-Fi can be spotty. If airlines and airports are going all-in on digital, they’ll need to invest heavily in tech infrastructure to ensure everything runs smoothly.
What’s Next? Paperless Passports?
If you think the end of boarding passes is a big deal, brace yourself: paper passports could be next.
Within the next decade, airports could also start using facial and eye recognition technology to verify identities, making physical passports obsolete.
This would speed up processing times and reduce the risk of lost or stolen documents.
But again, this raises questions about privacy and accessibility.
Will travelers be comfortable handing over their biometric data to governments and airlines? And what happens to those who don’t have access to the latest tech?
The Bigger Picture
Riyadh Air’s move toward a fully digital system is part of a larger trend in the travel industry.
Airlines and airports are increasingly looking for ways to streamline the passenger experience, from check-in to boarding.
And with global air travel expected to grow in the coming years, efficiency is more important than ever.
But as we embrace these changes, it’s crucial to remember that not everyone is on the same page when it comes to technology.
For every person excited about the convenience of biometrics, there’s someone who just wants to hold onto their paper boarding pass.
The challenge for airlines will be finding a balance between innovation and inclusivity.
The Bottom Line
The days of paper boarding passes are numbered, and the future of air travel is looking more digital—and more sci-fi—than ever.
Whether you’re thrilled about the idea of breezing through security with a quick face scan or mourning the loss of your trusty paper pass, one thing’s for sure: the way we travel is changing.
If airlines like Riyadh Air and Ryanair have their way, the change is coming faster than we think.
So, next time you’re at the airport, take a moment to appreciate that little piece of paper in your hand. It might not be around for much longer.
