Ryanair has announced passengers experiencing flight delays with the carrier of over 90 minutes will now receive free text message updates to advise them of the likely duration of the delay and their new departure time.

The service, developed in partnership with Sentient, is a new addition to Ryanair’s existing email/text and website passenger communications and will be particularly useful during periods of severe disruption such as bad weather.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said: “Now passengers who have provided us with complete mobile numbers will receive real-time information if they experience a rare flight delay of over 90 minutes.

“The latest SITA study found an estimated 95 per cent of airline passengers carry a mobile phone when they travel and our new system will ensure passengers are kept fully informed during periods of mass disruption, such as bad weather, air traffic control strikes or airspace closures.”