Low-cost airline Ryanair will shut down its website for three days to upgrade its reservations system.
Customers will not be able to book flights from 2200 GMT on 22 February until 2300 GMT on 25 February.
Ryanair says its current system is close to “breaking point” and the new software is needed to handle bookings.
The shutdown will also allow it to comply with an order by UK market regulators to make prices on its website clearer to consumers.
‘Very disappointed’
Last August, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) ordered 13 airlines to amend their websites to include “fixed non-optional” costs in their headline fares.
Ryanair has been the slowest to comply with that ruling, blaming technical difficulties.
The OFT extended its deadline for the changes from 31 January to 15 February.
“We are very disappointed that Ryanair has not met the agreed date of 31 January for changing its website,” the OFT said in a statement.
“Ryanair has informed us that the changeover to its new system will be on 22 February.” it added.
Ryanair takes 90% of bookings through its website.
But a company spokesman said the shutdown, “will not have an effect on bookings, loads or financial results.”
Last week, Ryanair warned that profits could be halved this year as fuel costs rise and the UK pound weakens.
The warning came as the budget airline reported that net profit dropped 27% to 35m euros ($52m; £26m) during the three months to the end of December.
By: Newforest - 6th March 2008 at 18:50
Thread is quiet, so the changeover went successfully, no critics, complaints or comments?:D
By: Deano - 21st February 2008 at 08:16
As you will be allowed to check-in at the Airports check-in desk for FREE.
My word, is MOL feeling ok?
By: tommyinyork - 21st February 2008 at 00:45
are ryanair gonna do a 1p flight sale soon.
By: TwinAisle - 18th February 2008 at 17:05
Is this changeover likely to run over longer than expected
How long is a piece of string? 🙂
Do a google search on Airtran….
By: lbaspotter - 18th February 2008 at 16:58
Hi
He is the official press release from Ryanair’s website regarding the website shut down.
If you have not done you on-line web check-in its alright. As you will be allowed to check-in at the Airports check-in desk for FREE.
Ryanair.com Flight Reservation System Down-22-25 Feb 08 inc.
From 22:00 hrs on the 22nd February until 23:00hrs on the 25th February 2008 the Ryanair internet and call centre booking system will be down because of the changeover to a new flight booking system.
Important Customer Information:
All flights between 22:00 hrs on the 22nd February until 23:00hrs on the 25th February 2008 will operate as normal
New Bookings cannot be made on Ryanair.com or via a Ryanair call centre between 22:00hrs on the 22nd February until 23:00hrs on the 25th February 2008
Flight Changes (date/time/route) cannot be made on Ryanair.com or via a Ryanair call centre between 22:00hrs on the 22nd February until 23:00hrs on the 25th February 2008 .
Review Existing Booking – passengers will not be able to review their existing booking details on Ryanair.com or via a Ryanair call centre between 22:00hrs on the 22nd February until 23:00hrs on the 25th February 2008.
Online Check-in – passengers will not be able to check-in online between 01:00hrs on the 22nd February until 23:00hrs on the 25th February 2008. Passengers traveling on the 23/24/25 February who are unable to check-in online can check-in at the airport and will not be charged the airport check-in fee.
By: wannabe pilot - 18th February 2008 at 16:30
Is this changeover likely to run over longer than expected, or have they already scheduled enough time for things to go wrong? I need to check-in online for several flights close to this period, which with the current closure expectency will just about be possible. However, if they over run by more than 6 or 7 hours it could make things awkward on one particular trip…
By: TwinAisle - 18th February 2008 at 14:35
Ryanair are changing their reservation system from Navitaire OpenSkies to Navitaire NewSkies. This is a move which is being forced upon them by Navitaire, who are removing support from the previous, HP3000 based version of the software.
The data migration and integrity checking will take a good few days, hence the closedown. NS will let them introduce dynamic packaging and a few other toys as well.
Hope it goes better for them than it has for other operators…. 😎
By: Craigston_Tom - 14th February 2008 at 22:38
Apparently Aer Lingus and Aer Arran are both planning to capitalise on this by launching their own initiatives to boast their sales.
http://www.uk-airport-news.info/stansted-airport-news-090208.htm
By: keltic - 14th February 2008 at 20:27
Fortunately I made my Santiago-Hahn booking today 😀
Sign In
February 14, 2008 at 8:08 pm