Company Overview
Ryanair is the most popular and largest low-fare carrier in Europe. It started as a family business in 1985 with a 15-seater Bandeirante aircraft. Today, Ryanair has 16 European bases across 22 European countries, flying 82 Boeing 737-800 and 9 Boeing 737-200 planes. Ryanair was named the most popular airline on the web for 2003 by Google and the most searched travel website in Europe (Ryanair, 2006). It has increased its passengers rapidly over the past ten years due to the popularity of low fare rates in European countries today.
Ryanair Information Systems
The typical IS in most companies today are those that are used in accounting, HR and others. For airline such as Ryanair, online booking and flight management systems, two if the most critical functions of an airline are discussed.
Flight Watch is an operational system of an airline. It collects and displays vital information, such as passenger transfer information, booking figures, crew rotations, airport limitations, weather conditions and others (Qi et al). With its growing number of passengers, Ryanair launched its website in 2000, the www.ryanair.com which allows passenger to have their flights book online and avail of services which from Ryanair partners such as car hire, hotels, and travel agencies. Through the website, Ryanair was able to manage passenger information. In 2000, the company introduced a new host reservation system called Flightspeed which was operated by Open Skies. Ryanair and Open Skies developed the Takeflight System (Ryanair, 2002), an internet booking facility that allows internet users to access Ryanair’s host reservation system and to transact payment in real time via the Ryanair’s website.
This system falls under the Transaction Processing System (TPS) and Decision Support System since it typically provides quantitative information such as the number of reservations and amount paid in a transaction as well as it serves a customer database wherein the company can analyze customer behavior and decides on the target markets. The data and information in this system is at the operational because booking and transactions are part of the operations system but at the same time, the customer database can be used to formulate strategies and set objectives. For example, Ryanair’s objective for this year is to increase its number of passenger by up to 25%, then basing on the customer database, they can set strategies to meet the company’s objective. The information in this system can be used in solving semi-structured problems.
Another IS in Ryanair is its Work Order and Flight Log Document Management System (“Increase Access to Information…” 2004) which is an integrated flight management schedule systems that support planning and operations department in planning schedules (QI et al). A flight management system allows a company record data of its pilots and decides on the flight plan. A flight management system has the navigational aid data base, airport database, the aircraft database and statistics like the number of flights for a day or a week.
This information system provides both qualitative and quantitative data as obvious with the data that are involved in the system. This system fits as a Decision Support System (DSS) because it helps Ryanair decides on the work order and scheduling its pilots depending on their qualifications and positions as well as on the aircraft that they will handle. Data and information in this system are use at the operational level and can be used in solving structured problems.
Methods of Communication
Information systems like the Takeflight and the Work Order and Flight Log Document Management System used different method to be able to be communicated with the concerned and involved individuals.
The Takeflight System is an internet booking facility which means that it utilized the internet as a communication tool to stay in contact with the passengers and those who will inquire about booking and flight schedules. The process of communication is easy; a customer would simply log on at Ryanair’s website and follow instructions. With its website, Ryanair can also promote easily its services, special offers, discounts and privileges as well as promote its business alliance’s services.
Moreover, the information at the Work Order and Flight Log Document Management System is provided over the Ryanair Intranet, allowing Ryanair staff and employees to access, create and share critical information within the company. The information system also eliminated the use of paper, making communication and sharing of information time-saving. Flight management is a critical and essential airline function and must be well documented and shared properly.
Conclusion
Ryanair, as reflected on their website, has been experiencing rapid growth in number of passengers. This only implies that its information systems are effectively working for Ryanair that the services they provided via its website as well as the coordination of flight schedules have resulted to customer satisfaction thus its sales increased as well as the number of loyal customers who opted to go for low cost airfare.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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