Happy New Year For EasyJet Customers As ntl:Telewest Business Helps Manage Demand

Published 24th January 2008

• easyJet upgrades network infrastructure in anticipation of 60 per cent increase in traffic as customers look to escape the January blues
• integrated voice, data and internet services provides easyJet with greater resilience and cost effectiveness
• ntl:Telewest Business provides 300 digital lines to connect four sites at Luton Airport, and network the company’s data centres...

easyJet, Europe’s fourth largest airline, is using ntl:Telewest Business, part of the Virgin Media group, to upgrade its communications infrastructure ahead of the New Year rush when traffic to the company’s website jumps by 60 per cent as people look to escape the January blues. easyJet expects to carry close to 3 million passengers in January alone, and will be taking bookings for the next 10 months.

The company is deploying 300 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines from ntl:Telewest Business to create a single communications environment that provides voice, data and internet services to its head quarters and three sites at Luton Airport. The ISDN connection offers a resilient, integrated service that enables users to send information and make calls simultaneously. Because ISDN is an integrated network solution, it provides a cost effective way for easyJet to connect workgroups at its different locations.

The network helps easyJet to effectively manage the massive spikes in customer demand, through providing fast digital connections between the company’s data centre and the rest of its network, and by empowering employees with faster communication services. Having a fast and reliable network infrastructure underpinning all communications means that easyJet is able to ensure each customer embarks on their journey as quickly and as effectively as possible.

"The start of the year is always one of the busiest times for us. Once the turkey sandwiches have run out, people like to book a trip to get away and banish the January blues and we see a massive increase in sales," said Bill Codd, IT Manager, easyJet. “Approximately 98 per cent of all our sales come via our website, so it’s vital that we have the right communications infrastructure in place to be able to meet demand. The network that ntl:Telewest Business has built for us means that we are always in a position to capitalise on customer interest no matter how great the numbers.”

In the year September 2006 to September 2007 easyJet flew more than 37 million passengers making it the fourth largest airline in Europe. Flying 289 routes through 77 airports, the company employs more than 5,600 staff and generates £1.8 billion in annual revenue.

“Competition in the airline industry is so intense that having a fast, resilient and cost effective communications infrastructure in place can make all the difference. The performance of a company’s IT systems and website in this sector may reflect upon the overall performance of the airline to customers, so ensuring that all runs smoothly especially at the busiest times of year, is vital,” said James Nicolson, Business Sales Manager for ntl:Telewest Business in the Home Counties and East Anglia. “The infrastructure we have delivered provides easyJet with the means to meet customer demand and ensure an excellent level of service no matter how great the demand is.”