RYANAIR STARTS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH STANSTED EXPRESS

[White Cap]

Hello all,


News Release
01.11.04
RYANAIR STARTS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH STANSTED EXPRESS

THE REVOLUTION IN CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTINUES

Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 low fares airline, today (Monday, 1st November 2004) commence a new partnership with Stansted Express – the direct rail service from London Stansted Airport to London city centre (Liverpool St Station). The new service allows Ryanair passengers to book specially discounted tickets on-line after booking their flight on http://www.ryanair.com. Also today, Ryanair will begin to roll-out it’s new In-flight Entertainment System (IFE), allowing passengers to catch Hollywood movies, cartoons, sports, comedy and music videos.

Speaking today, Ryanair’s Head of Marketing and Ancillary Revenue, Santina Doherty said:

“We are delighted to offer Ryanair passengers this service. It means that our London Stansted passengers can now book their flight and rail ticket to and from the heart of the London city centre all at once - and at a specially discounted price of £22 return* - only available on http://www.ryanair.com. The service departs every 15 minutes during peak times and gets you into the city centre in under 45 minutes.

“We are constantly seeking out ways to enhance our service offering to passengers, and to make journeys as cheap and as easy as possible. This new service is simply another step in that direction.

“Today, also marks the introduction of our new in-flight entertainment system - initially on five London Stansted based aircraft and to be rolled across the network over the winter - which will make movies, cartoons, comedies and music videos available to all our passengers. Our new Stansted Express partnership and our in-flight entertainment system will undoubtedly enhance Ryanair’s customer service package”

* Normal price £24.

Cheers,
White Cap

[dirkp]

The problem with Stansted Express is of course that it's the slowest, most unreliable train link in the history of mass public transport (especially if compared to Heathrow Express or even the Frankfurt Koeln ICE link).

The number of times I missed my plane (or barely made it) because S.E. had engineering problems, causing either disastrous delays or cancellations were so humungous, that in the end I now take a minicab from the Eastend. Takes 35 minutes and is only marginally more expensive.

Until S.E. gets new rolling stock and a decent track, this will continue to be the biggest turnoff for every tourist arriving there.

It's not that Stansted is otherwise a desireable location to arrive to / depart from anyway...

D