Ryanair unveils website revamp to sound of silence

With an unaccustomed lack of fanfare, Ryanair launched its revamped website yesterday.

A single tweet from Ryanair’s new Twitter account was the only PR gesture to promote the new website.

“We have a surprise for you! Our new Ryanair home page — the first of many changes for Ryanair.com,” the budget airline announced.

Morning. We have a surprise for you! Our new @Ryanair home page, the 1st of many changes for http://t.co/cgLkPqmZBx pic.twitter.com/aF9wDUQVkH

— Ryanair (@Ryanair) November 15, 2013

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary last month promised to make the website more user-friendly in response to constant complaints from customers.

In a rare admission of inferiority, Mr O’Leary acknowledged that the website compared poorly to that of main rival, EasyJet.

Now, Ryanair’s traditional, slightly garish blue-yellow livery (in homage to the airline’s Tipperary founder, Tony Ryan) has been replaced by a more visually appealing look.

The airline also limits the potential number of destinations from which to choose once the departure airport had been selected in the booking section. However, some of the bad old habits in relation to customers having to opt out of the airline’s many add-ons remain.

Unwary customers can still be fooled into buying extras such as insurance.