October 2018 · AV I A T I O N B U S I N E S SAV I AT I O N
PA RT N ER S
TECHNOLOGY48 http://www.aviationbusinessme.com
In an effort to enhance its merchandis-
ing and distribution capabilities, Etihad
Airways has partnered with Farelogix
Inc, to deploy its cloud-based solution,
FLX Merchandise.
The implementation of the platform
will enable the airline to deliver custom-
ised service propositions and packages
for its customers. This, in turn, will
encourage the development of ancillary
offerings for passengers, while also cre-
ating personalised travel options across
distribution channels.
“Ou r v ision is to prov ide g uest s w it h t he
widest choice. We are proud to partner
with Farelogix, a recognised leader in
airline commerce technology, to realise
this vision,” said Robin Kamark, Etihad’s
Chief Commercial Offi cer.
“The new partnership will help us in
the journey towards the airline’s digital
transformation that focuses on delivering
modern retail experiences to customers
around the globe.”
The utilisation of FLX Merchandise will
allow Etihad to offer optional products,
such as preferred seats and priority board-Etihad Airways sets its sights
on the Cloud
CLOUDThe airline aims to enhance the customer experience through
the use of Cloud technologying, for example. Additionally, the platform
will report boost speed-to-market in the
introduction of new offers.
“Etihad has a relentless drive to exceed
customer expectations with personalised
offers and greater choice. Our partnership
w i l l enable t hem to do what t hey do best –
delight their guests,” said Jim Davidson,
CEO of Farelogix.
Moving forward, Etihad has laid plans
to unveil a full New Distribution Capability
(NDC) enabled platform, an addition that
would allow customers to better visual-
ise offerings through digital media. This
would come in form of image and video
content and would be visible to the cus-
tomer, whether they are booking via travel
agencies or utilising meta-search engines.
“It is crucial in today’s digital world that
we continuously refi ne our services and
utilise progressive technology to elevate
our customers travel experiences regard-
less of the channel they use to book. The
solutions offered by Farelogix will allow
us to t a ke cont rol of ou r of fer, ex pa nd ou r
distribution capabilities and drive product
variation,” added Kamark.c The platform will enable the airline to deliver customised service propositions and packages.Seeking new ways to improve its train-
ing regimen through the introduction
of digital technology, Virgin Atlantic is
trialling an augmented reality app to
aid in the development of cabin crew.
Working in close collaboration with
SITA for the implementation, Virgin
Atlantic’s cabin crew are using augment-
ed rea l it y to wa l k t h rough t he a i rc r a f t a nd
acquaint themselves with the layout of the
airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
“Today innovation is the lifeblood
of a modern airline. New technologies
such as augmented reality hold out the
promise to better manage our airline
operations while providing an enriched
experience to our increasingly tech-
savvy passengers. SITA has long been
a partner in exploring the frontiers of
technology and this AR application is
no exception,” said Don Langford, CIO
of Virgin Atlantic.
SI TA a nd V i rg i n A t la nt ic have ma i n -
tained a long-standing relationship,
working closely on technology pro-
jects for the aviation space. Back in
2013, the two parties developed a new
solution powered by Google Glass and
Sony Smartwatch technology for Virgin
Atlantic’s concierge staff.
“SITA Lab has identifi ed augmented
reality as one of the emerging technolo-
g ies t hat w i l l benefi t the air transport in
the years to come,” said Gustavo Pina,
Head of SITA Lab.c The app presents a layout for a 787 aircraft.Virgin Atlantic tests
augmented reality
training app
Working in close collaboration
with SITA, the airline is trial-
ling an augmented reality app
for cabin crew trainingCCD unveils VR design tool
Evidentia assists architects in designing airport terminals that best suit passenger movements