Ryanair inks deal with Vodaphone Ireland

Ryanair has signed a partnership with Vodafone Ireland under which Vodafone will support Ryanair’s communications and IT needs across Europe, including its ticketing, check-in, ground crew, inflight crew and pilot systems.

Vodafone will provide local and wide area network access, telephony, fixed line and mobile 3G and 4G functionality across Ryanair’s 189 locations in Europe and North Africa, while the partnership will also allow the roll out of Electronic Flight Bags (iPads in the flight deck), creating paperless cockpits, as well as a new inflight sales system, as part of Ryanair’s “Always Getting Better” improvement programme.

Ryanair’s Chief Technology Officer, John Hurley said:

“Over the last 30 years, Ryanair has revolutionised and democratised air travel for European citizens, growing to become Europe’s largest airline with the widest route network, connecting 189 destinations in 30 countries, through more than 1,600 routes – and all on the lowest fares. As part of our “Always Getting Better” improvement programme, we’re continuing to enhance the Ryanair experience for our 90m annual customers, and this partnership with Vodafone will provide us with the technical support to allow us to make these improvements quickly and seamlessly, including the introduction of paperless cockpits and a swifter inflight sales system.”

Vodafone Ireland Enterprise Director, Anne Sheehan said:

“This partnership is one of the most significant for Vodafone in Ireland and is further evidence of our strategy of providing large enterprise with total communications solutions to drive productivity and efficiencies.  We have embraced Ryanair’s dynamic and unique approach by providing complete end to end technology solutions and we have tailored to Ryanair’s requirements across 189 locations in Europe. Ryanair is a company that is driving innovative technological solutions in the airline industry and Vodafone is delighted to partner with them to drive this evolution.”
– See more at: http://corporate.ryanair.com/news/news/150219-new-partnership-with-vodafone-ireland/?market=en#sthash.dhISMisY.dpuf