The world is becoming more sustainable and digital and SpiceJet has taken a major leap in this direction. The airline has introduced a paperless boarding process at Shillong Airport, Meghalaya to encourage digital travel. With this new initiative, this airline has become India’s first airline to issue boarding passes directly through WhatsApp at airport check-in counters. Read to know more.
SpiceJet Rolls Out Paperless Boarding Passes Via WhatsApp
Despite services like web check-in and government initiatives like Digit Yatra, millions of boarding passes are still printed across India. Business World reported in June 2025 alone, more than nine million boarding passes were printed across Indian airports. As a result, it led to over six tonnes of carbon emissions that airlines could have easily avoided. Now, an Indian airline is coming forward to resolve this issue.
The new SpiceJet process is simple. Passengers just have to check in at the airport counter; instead of receiving a paper boarding pass, they will get their pass directly on WhatsApp. This new system makes the process simple, saving passengers from waiting for the slips or worrying about losing them. It’s quicker, eco-friendly, and efficient.
Reducing Environmental Damage
With paperless boarding passes, SpiceJet aims to focus on digital innovation and sustainability. It will not only enhance passengers’ experiences but will also reduce the use of paper, causing less damage to the environment. For this innovation, the airlines used their own technology, Web Departure Control System (WEBDCS), which airport staff can use on both regular computers and tablets. With this system, the airport staff can send a boarding pass via WhatsApp or email. They will also be able to share baggage tags via SMS.
As per the Business World report, GP Gupta, the Chief Strategy Officer at SpiceJet, mentioned that paperless boarding at Shillong Airport is just the beginning of the airline’s WhatsApp boarding pass initiative and will soon expand to other Indian airports. In the next few months, airline will launch WhatsApp-based paperless boarding processes at other domestic airports too. If this initiative by SpiceJet turns out to be successful, it would be a great example for the other airlines.
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