72% of aviation workers experience verbal or physical abuse during travel disruption

Aviation workers say that 72% of airline or airport staff have been intimidated, shouted at or physically hurt during disruptions to customer travel. Shockingly, 71% of air travel workers say they see an increase in staff being abused by customers when disruption occurs. This number correlates closely with customer anger, as 73% of aviation workers see customers "furious or frustrated" in the face of travel disruption. 

Research conducted by travel technology specialist IBS Software and Aviation Business News finds that 55% of workers in the air travel sector have seen their mental health negatively impacted by the fallout of flight disruption. What's more, 47% say that disruption affects their work-life balance, as they often think about issues faced during the day when they get home from work.

Encouragingly, despite widespread customer frustration, 65% of airline or airport workers think the airline industry manages disruption well. However, they identify access to accurate information, the impact of disruption on operations and getting information to customers as the top three challenges faced by airlines when disruption occurs.

Ignoring these challenges can have a lasting impact on airlines, with 62% of air travel workers agreeing that customers now choose an airline based on its reputation for handling disruption. 

Air India Selects IBS Software's iCargo platform

Air India has selected IBS Software, a worldwide leader in SaaS solutions for the travel industry to digitally transform its expanding air cargo operations.  

Air India has chosen IBS Software's iCargo solution to support its growth plan and commitment to the airline's ongoing digital transformation. IBS Software's fully integrated iCargo solution will enable Air India to digitise end-to-end cargo management, allowing seamless integration of numerous cargo operations, from sales to billing within a single, integrated platform. This will empower Air India to streamline processes and enhance decision-making capabilities.

This partnership comes at a time when Air India has embarked on a significant digital transformation of its core businesses across passenger services, fleet, and cargo operations.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer at Air India, said: "Air India is on a transformation journey to not only reaffirm its position as a global leader in aviation, but to also establish foundations for future growth. Air cargo is one of the key drivers of our roadmap for future growth, and technology will be at the core of it."

IBS Software Announces Appointment of New Chief Executive Officer Somit Goyal

     IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, has appointed Somit Goyal as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Somit succeeds Anand Krishnan, who served as CEO of IBS Software since 2018. 

Somit Goyal brings a wealth of experience in the enterprise software sector, having held leadership roles at globally renowned companies such as Microsoft, SAP, Oracle and AOL. 

During his 11-year tenure at Microsoft, Somit held several leadership roles across strategy, operations, sales and customer success. In his last role, he managed the global sales of Microsoft’s Modern Work cloud business, and before that, Somit served as the Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft’s Public Sector business worldwide. Somit also conceived and established the Customer Success function at Microsoft, an area of growing importance for IBS Software as it continues to expand globally.

Most recently, Somit served as President and COO of Pluralsight, a SaaS company, where he oversaw product, engineering and GTM functions. 

"Somit’s impressive experience in operating global SaaS businesses, leading diverse teams, and managing all facets of enterprise software make him exceptionally well-suited to lead IBS Software during this exciting phase of growth," said V K Mathews, Executive Chairman of IBS Software. "IBS Software is at a pivotal point in its trajectory as we continue to innovate to better serve our customers. I am confident Somit will help unlock our full potential.”

India's fledgling airline FLY91to use IBS Software to offer dynamic and competitive airfares.

FLY91, is India's youngest regional airline, with a simple mission to make air travel accessible to travellers across the nation, has partnered with IBS Software to power its commercial operations. IBS Software has created a reservation experience designed to deliver a simple, efficient and cost-effective experience, to attract and retain customers.

By implementing IBS Software's modern omni-channel iFly Res commerce platform, FLY91 will not only create a compelling user experience powered by the platform's rich set of APIs and flexible rules engine, but also deliver dynamic pricing. These real-time dynamic and personalised pricing capabilities are a vital tool in delivering the most cost-effective fares and ensuring pricing is competitive with alternative modes of transport.

Additionally, access to an API-driven ecosystem gives FLY91 the ability to open its services and routes connecting tier 2 (population of 50,000 to 100,000) and tier 3 (population of 20,000 to 50,000) cities across India to interline partners, providing international and domestic airlines with a solution to last-mile coverage to smaller destinations that are traditionally poorly or underserved by existing carriers.

Philippine Airlines and its affiliate carrier, PAL Express, have embarked on the next phase of their journey to deploy IBS Software's iFly Staff travel solution.

                        Philippine Airlines and its affiliate carrier, PAL Express, have embarked on the next phase of their journey to deploy IBS Software's iFly Staff travel solution.

Built to improve travel operational efficiency for airline employee travellers, iFly Staff is a SaaS solution designed to automate the end-to-end business and leisure travel booking process for airline employees. The partnership with iFly Staff enables PAL and PALex employees, dependents and retirees to plan, book and manage their travel requirements for leisure and business trips via multiple channels and devices.

PAL is the first Southeast Asian SaaS customer of IBS Software and the fourth from the Asia-Pacific region.

Since the go-live, iFly Staff has significantly improved the travel experiences of PAL employees by replacing tedious paper-based manual processes with self-service booking capability, reducing staff travel booking time from days to minutes. Additional benefits include a reduction in general office backlogs, enhanced policy and security compliance, and the facilitation of multiple payment options.

Jo-Ann Maluenda, Vice President of Human Capital at PAL, remarks: "PAL's primary objective is to provide our valued employees, their families, and loyal PAL retirees with a smoother, more streamlined, and user-friendly process for availing of their employee travel benefits. With iFly Staff, our employees can now book their trips anytime, anywhere with just a few clicks. We partnered with IBS Software to achieve end-to-end automation of our employee travel booking and administrative processes, introducing industry-best practices without compromising PAL-specific processes. Our PAL and PAL Express employees work diligently to deliver exceptional service to our customers worldwide, and they deserve a flexible and user-friendly travel experience. We also anticipate substantial savings in back-office work."

Vijay R Chakravarthy, VP & Head of iFly Staff at IBS Software, comments: "We are delighted to have PAL as our first Southeast Asian customer on board iFly Staff. It is significant that PAL has achieved the objectives of this transformation journey and is starting to reap the benefits. We look forward to working closely with stakeholders to enhance experiences and maximize the potential of the solution deployed at PAL."

TUI Group deepens partnership with IBS Software to optimise operations

TUI Group (TUI) has extended its decade-strong partnership with IBS Software, to optimise its Airline IT operations platform, allowing TUI to disrupt its existing business models, enhance scalability and accelerate speed to market, all while enhancing the customer experience.

IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, has a long-standing partnership with TUI to overhaul its IT processes to deliver transformational value. IBS Software currently maintains all 35+ airline backend systems at TUI, across legacy and modern technology stacks.

This renewed partnership will see IBS Software continue to own, operate and enhance TUI's Integrated Disposition Planning and Statistics product (IDPS), which manages flight planning and control, crewing and rostering, flight operations, maintenance planning, HR, and statistics and reporting across all five of TUI's airlines. The IDPS platform is a strategic priority for TUI in its mission to build a virtual airline and future-proofing its airlines by finding economies of scale that deliver growth.

Isabelle Droll, Chief Information Officer, Holiday Experience and Corporate & Sustainability, TUI, said, "IBS Software is passionate about developing a strategic approach to optimise our Airline IT operations platform, adapting constantly to our business model. Partnering with IBS Software and utilising its expertise in airline operations and business processes as well as technology has enabled us to realise the full potential of our IDPS system."

"Our long collaboration with TUI has been marked by mutual trust and exceptional service, resulting in the successful evolution of the IDPS platform to meet TUI's dynamic business requirements. With this renewed commitment, we look forward to playing a crucial role in enabling TUI's growth and success in the ever-evolving travel market," said Latha Rani, Vice President & Head of Service Delivery at IBS Software.

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To explore how IBS Software enabled continuous digital transformation at TUI Group through collaborative technology partnership, download the case study here.

IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise, hospitality, and energy resources industries. IBS Software's solutions for the aviation industry cover fleet & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel and air cargo management. 

SkyUp Airlines select IBS Software to power restart of commercial operations

Ukraine's largest airline, SkyUp Airlines, and its Maltese subsidiary, SkyUp Malta, have selected IBS Software to empower its commercial operations. IBS Software, a global leader of SaaS solutions to the travel and cargo industry, is providing a digitally native passenger services system (PSS) to allow SkyUp to overhaul its previous platform and deliver greater flexibility as it recommences the scheduled flights. 

SkyUp, a digital-first airline, has attracted widespread attention for its innovative actions since the start of the war, including the evacuation of its aircraft from closed airspace, its pivot to become an ACMI provider, and most recently achieving an Air Operator Certificate in Malta so the airline can operate anywhere in Europe. As SkyUp Airlines gears up to restart full-scale operations in EU following its temporary stint as an ACMI and charter airline, transforming its inhouse IT system into a world-class PSS is a significant part of its journey.

IBS Software’s cloud and NDC-native PSS platform will enable SkyUp to react to changing market conditions, giving them the ability to dynamically price fares and ancillary services and handle continuous pricing via a multitude of distribution channels. Importantly, the new platform also allows SkyUp to run both its core airline and Maltese subsidiary from one platform, enabling the airline to feed their inhouse tour operator and rapidly expanding partner network of travel agencies via their direct channel. 

"We are excited to partner with IBS Software, a like-minded partner with innovation at its core, to power the restart of our commercial operations," said Lyudmyla Slobodianiuk, CCO of SkyUp Airlines. "IBS Software's cloud-native PSS will provide the platform for us to move quickly and adapt to changing market conditions. We are convinced the partnership will be an important foundation for future success." 

"We are delighted to be selected by SkyUp Airlines to power the restart of commercial operations," said Benjamin Simmons, Vice President and Regional Head of Europe and Africa at IBS Software. "It is an honour to work with such a resilient and innovative airline as it continues to transform its business to overcome the adversity of both COVID and war. By supporting its commitment to replace legacy systems with next generation technology to serve its customers, we look forward to supporting SkyUp as it starts a new and exciting chapter in its history.”

British holidaymakers see red after delays of just over an hour new research finds.

UK holidaymakers say it takes a delay of just 64 minutes to make them see red, according to research commissioned by travel technology specialist IBS Software. As many as 71% of British people who have travelled abroad in the last year had a flight either delayed or cancelled, with a further 45% admitting they worry future travel plans will be disrupted.

This latest research seems to indicate that transparent and timely communications from airlines are vital in minimising the impact of flight disruption for passengers. 58% that's nearly six in ten of those affected by delays have struggled to find out why their plans have been thrown into turmoil, while 16% head straight to social media to bemoan the airlines.

Sixty-one per cent of the respondents don’t always feel flight delays or cancellations are explained properly to passengers and forty-five per cent become frustrated because they haven’t been informed about how the issues the airlines are experiencing will be resolved.

The knock-on impact of flight delays is also now causing holidaymakers to reconsider their travel plans. UK travellers said that if their flights were badly disrupted again this summer, they would reconsider the airline they use 26%, be more likely to opt for a staycation that didn’t require air travel 18% and they’d consider alternative modes of transport 16%. 

The research indicated 31% of passengers who have experienced flight delays or cancellations have received compensation for the problems they incurred. However, of those who have, more than half - 53% said it didn’t make up for missing out on the precious holiday time lost.

Philip Hinton, SVP at IBS Software, added: “Adverse weather, secondary delays and other operational issues are a daily challenge for airlines, but the industry can help regain confidence with passengers by using advanced technology to reduce the impact of disruptions in a faster and more effective way and to communicate clearly with the passengers. 

The research shows a significant number of passengers would be more understanding with a delay if they were just kept in the loop. Too often the legacy IT systems that many airlines use can exacerbate delays.” 

84 per cent of holidaymakers would be more understanding when it comes to delays or cancellations if the airlines were transparent about the issues they are encountering.

It should be noted that the research was carried out by OnePoll, which specializes in creating PR survey, surveying just 1,330 UK adults who have flown abroad in the last 12 months, between 15th and 21st August 2023.

Lounge access and upgrades are the top benefits.......

IBS Software, a global leader of SaaS solutions to the travel industry, reveals the results of a survey of 1500 air passengers based in Hong Kong, Singapore or United Arab Emirates (UAE). The majority (63%) of respondents, which included both leisure and business travellers, are members of an airline loyalty program and nearly 80% also choose to be part of schemes at supermarkets (44%), clothing brands (36%), and restaurants (33%).

Despite the widespread adoption of Airline Loyalty Programs (ALP), the results reveal passengers feel unable to make the most of them with over half (58%) unsure where they can redeem points and 56% unaware of the value of their points; this figure jumps to 64% in Singapore and the UAE.

Of the 37% of respondents who either have never been a member of a loyalty program or whose membership has lapsed, the main reason cited (after not flying frequently enough to make it worthwhile) is a lack of awareness of the benefits (30%). The perception that it's too hard to build up points is the third most common reason for avoiding loyalty programs with nearly a quarter (23%) and this figure jumps to a third (33%) of non-members in Singapore.

However, despite the apathy amongst non-members, there is an opportunity for airlines to tempt them to sign up. 58% of respondents not already part of a loyalty program would be willing to try one in the future and this increases to 67% in the 26-35 year old age bracket and 64% in the UAE region. Hong Kong residents seem the most reluctant to try loyalty programs with just 46% considering it in the future. Easy check-ins (46%) and cabin class upgrades (44%) are highlighted as the two top reasons a non-member would be willing to sign up.

Of the respondents who are already members (63%), they belong to an average of at least two airline loyalty programs. Exclusive access to lounges (32%) and cabin class upgrades (31%) are seen as the top benefits for this group. For leisure travellers, class upgrades and points not expiring are the most appealing benefits, while a fast track check-in, immediate rewards and free tickets to events appeal more to business travellers.

Marcus Puffer, Vice President & Head of Loyalty Solutions at IBS Software, said -- "It's incumbent on airlines to ensure their program members are aware of the benefits of their loyalty schemes, or they risk losing their interest in being part of the club. VIP lounges and class upgrades are fantastic perks but if a member doesn't feel confident in how to build up their bank of points or, worse, know how to use them, the selection of benefits becomes irrelevant."

For a detailed survey refer to the blog: While airline loyalty benefits appeal, 58% don't know how to redeem points

*The survey was conducted online by YouGov. The study polled 1500 travellers from Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai who have travelled by air in the last 18 months.

IBS Software selected by MAS Air Cargo

MSC Air Cargo partners with IBS Software to power its global air cargo business

Through the multi-year cargo management agreement, IBS will deploy its iCargo solution to completely digitalise MSC’s air cargo operations

IBS Software, a global leader of SaaS solutions to the travel and cargo industry, has been selected by the air cargo unit of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, as a strategic partner in a bid to digitally transform its air cargo operations.

iCargo, the Software as a Service solution for air cargo management from IBS Software, will install a true digital platform that covers cargo sales, operations, cargo accounting and portal for MSC. The standard product implementation will help MSC to go-live faster and start business operations at the earliest opportunity. Once fully implemented, iCargo will enable MSC to have full visibility of its air cargo value chain, covering sales, operations and accounting, while also gaining insights for continuous business improvement. 

The partnership enables IBS Software to deploy iCargo for a company that is already the world’s largest container carrier and which is now growing its MSC Air Cargo unit, as a complementary business to its core ocean shipping solution. iCargo adheres to best practices in the air cargo industry and is fully compliant with global industry standards and initiatives – such as Cargo iQ, C-XML, OneRecord, e-AWB and e-Freight – making this latest development a remarkable moment across the logistics industry. It is an important step toward achieving seamless operations across multi-modal logistics models, increased efficiency and the productivity to power rapid global trade and growth IBS Software has long advocated for. 

MSC Air Cargo partners with IBS Software to power its global air cargo business

MSC Air Cargo partners with IBS Software to power its global air cargo business

Through the multi-year cargo management agreement, IBS will deploy its iCargo solution to completely digitalise MSC’s air cargo operations

IBS Software, a global leader of SaaS solutions to the travel and cargo industry, has been selected by the air cargo unit of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, as a strategic partner in a bid to digitally transform its air cargo operations.

iCargo, the Software as a Service solution for air cargo management from IBS Software, will install a true digital platform that covers cargo sales, operations, cargo accounting and portal for MSC. The standard product implementation will help MSC to go-live faster and start business operations at the earliest opportunity. Once fully implemented, iCargo will enable MSC to have full visibility of its air cargo value chain, covering sales, operations and accounting, while also gaining insights for continuous business improvement. 

The partnership enables IBS Software to deploy iCargo for a company that is already the world’s largest container carrier and which is now growing its MSC Air Cargo unit, as a complementary business to its core ocean shipping solution. iCargo adheres to best practices in the air cargo industry and is fully compliant with global industry standards and initiatives – such as Cargo iQ, C-XML, OneRecord, e-AWB and e-Freight – making this latest development a remarkable moment across the logistics industry. It is an important step toward achieving seamless operations across multi-modal logistics models, increased efficiency and the productivity to power rapid global trade and growth IBS Software has long advocated for. 

Bamboo Airways adopts IBS Software's next gen iFly Loyalty platform to modernize its fast-growing loyalty program

Bamboo Club will deliver an improved customer experience for over 1.6 million frequent flyers.

Bamboo Airways, the private Vietnamese airline aiming to provide world-class services, has selected IBS Software to modernize its loyalty program and provide a superior experience to over 1.6 million Bamboo Club members.

Bamboo Airways, which has carried nearly 20 million passengers since commencing operations in 2019, has worked closely with IBS Software since launch, to power its loyalty management platform as the company continues its focus on creating a 5-star customer experience. With the skyrocketing growth of its Bamboo Club member base by an average of 150% in the last two years, the airline has made its mark in the Vietnamese travel market. Bamboo Airways now connects each of the 22 airports across the country and the airline is also actively expanding beyond its domestic network to international regions including Europe, Asia and Australia.

Loyalty programs became critically important during the pandemic, enabling many airlines to secure lifeline funding and alternative revenue streams. The need to invest and deploy next-generation loyalty programs supported by modern technology platforms such as iFly Loyalty has become a priority for many airlines since 2020.

The recent upgrade to iFly Loyalty enables Bamboo Airways to improve engagement with members and introduce two-factor authentication, along with faster integration options with third-party partners to transform the Bamboo Club into a true lifestyle program. Now, with the cloud-native and dynamically scalable solution in place, the airline can benefit from more efficient innovation, achieve deeper member engagement, and ensure business and revenue growth, as well as operational cost- efficiencies.

Apax Funds make approximately $450m investment in travel tech company IBS Software

Funds advised by Apax Partners LLP announced this week that they have reached a definitive agreement to invest approximately $450m to acquire a significant minority stake in IBS Software, a leading provider of modern Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to the global travel and logistics industry, from Blackstone. Following the transaction, Apax will partner closely with IBS Software’s Founder and Executive Chairman, V K Mathews, who will remain the majority shareholder.

Founded in 1997 with a vision of redefining the future of travel through technology innovation, IBS Software provides next-generation SaaS solutions that power the most mission-critical operations at the world’s leading aviation, tour and cruise, hospitality and logistics companies. 

With a comprehensive portfolio of modular, cloud-based solutions purpose-built for the travel industry, IBS Software helps travel companies accelerate innovation and drive efficiency across a broad set of core business processes, including cargo and logistics, flight operations, passenger services, loyalty programs, cruise operations, energy & resource logistics and hospitality distribution platforms. Backed by a team of 4000 professionals across the world with more than 25 years of deep domain expertise, IBS Software’s scalable, cloud-native platform and demonstrated market leadership, position it to define the future of mission-critical technology for the travel industry.

Freebird Airlines implements IBS Software’s iFly Res to boost digital capabilities and streamline tour operations function

The omnichannel platform will help popular Turkish leisure carrier improve its personalization offering and drive revenue 

IBS Software, a global leader of SaaS solutions to the travel and cargo industry, has been selected by Turkey’s fast-growing leisure airline, Freebird Airlines, to enrich its direct distribution capabilities for scheduled and charter flights with digitally-powered passenger sales and services platform iFly Res. 

Freebird, which belongs to the most extensive Turkish aviation group Gözen Holding, is a well-known and trusted brand within the European leisure market at the apex of its digital transformation journey. The solution will remove one of the biggest business challenges for Freebird, as the provider will gain ability to distribute capacity for both scheduled and charter operations under two airline codes (AOCs) within one passenger services system (PSS).

iFly Res will also improve revenue and inventory management equipping over 50 tour operators with airfares and seat allocations. Furthermore, by implementing the platform, Freebird is set to gain an estimated revenue uplift of 3% compared to the prior system. 

Malaysia Airlines signs 5-year deal with IBS Software to Leverage AI and ML Technology Solutions

Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) signs a five-year deal to migrate its crew management systems to IBS Software’s’ cloud-based platform, iFlight Crew, to further automate and upgrade its aviation operations with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning benefits.

 

IBS Software has a longstanding partnership of over 10 years with MAB and will continue to support the company’s journey to revolutionise its flight operations with solutions including iFlight Crew Tracking, Manpower Planning, AD OPT Pairing and Rostering Optimiser. These functions aim to improve employee productivity in automating situational awareness and decision-making, and facilitate seamless data flow between ops and crew tracking functions, to significantly improve disruption recovery.

 

With customer and crew satisfaction at the heart of its latest solution, iFlight Crew factors in complex variables and scenarios, before providing optimal crew pairing and rostering solutions. It also maximises productivity and controls costs whilst adhering to strict industry standards and regulations. Its latest technology accelerates flexible and accessible self-service tools for airline crew.

 

IBS Software buys Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS)....... major move to bolster air cargo capabilities and extend into ocean freight & logistics

IBS Software Acquires Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS) to Bolster Air Cargo Capabilities and Extend into Ocean Freight & Logistics

The acquisition will help expand IBS Software’s footprint in the global freight supply chain, accelerating digital transformation and innovation

IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, has announced the completion of a transaction to acquire Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS). AFLS provides technology platforms to help airline and ocean transportation companies manage their freight operations and grow through digital transformation and innovation.

The acquisition will strengthen IBS Software’s leadership as a technology provider to the air freight industry by bringing together complementary solutions and a shared vision for innovating and transforming the air cargo businesses. Boosting the freight business is an increasingly critical priority for airlines and the AFLS acquisition consolidates latest innovations to accelerate growth, especially AFLS’ cloud-based collaboration platforms which deliver advancements in airline partnerships – a major focus area for carriers.

The acquisition is also a strategic step in recognizing IBS Software’s vision to establish itself as an end-to-end player in the global freight supply chain. AFLS has a strong heritage in ocean freight innovation with a suite of new generation platforms that enable ocean carriers to automate critical business functions and make data-led decisions for commercial operations. Further, the transaction helps IBS Software to deploy its cargo and logistics management expertise in the ocean transportation sector.

IBS Software Acquires Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS)

IBS Software Acquires Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS) to Bolster Air Cargo Capabilities and Extend into Ocean Freight & Logistics

The acquisition will help expand IBS Software’s footprint in the global freight supply chain, accelerating digital transformation and innovation

IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, has announced the completion of a transaction to acquire Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS). AFLS provides technology platforms to help airline and ocean transportation companies manage their freight operations and grow through digital transformation and innovation.

The acquisition will strengthen IBS Software’s leadership as a technology provider to the air freight industry by bringing together complementary solutions and a shared vision for innovating and transforming the air cargo businesses. Boosting the freight business is an increasingly critical priority for airlines and the AFLS acquisition consolidates latest innovations to accelerate growth, especially AFLS’ cloud-based collaboration platforms which deliver advancements in airline partnerships – a major focus area for carriers.

The acquisition is also a strategic step in recognizing IBS Software’s vision to establish itself as an end-to-end player in the global freight supply chain. AFLS has a strong heritage in ocean freight innovation with a suite of new generation platforms that enable ocean carriers to automate critical business functions and make data-led decisions for commercial operations. Further, the transaction helps IBS Software to deploy its cargo and logistics management expertise in the ocean transportation sector.

Air passengers call for more retail opportunities and slicker online checko

Air passengers call for more retail opportunities and slicker online checkout

 

83% of consumers are planning to fly to a leisure destination in the next six months

93% would buy services like excursions and car rental from their airline  if they could

56% would be more likely to spend on extras if the online buying experience improved to be more like retail, fashion and groceries

 

                 New survey data from travel tech company IBS Software, reveals a massive 93% of UK and US consumers would book more services with airlines given the chance - representing a huge opportunity for airlines. 

The study, which looked into UK and US airline passengers' expectations of airlines, shows that following a challenging period of travel uncertainty, passenger confidence is recovering with 83% of respondents planning to purchase tickets in the next six months. However, the research also points to airlines’ failings to maximise this opportunity with over a third (36%) of those asked stating that booking a flight online is more time consuming and complicated than other online retail experiences. 

As many as 56% of recent flyers would buy additional services from an airline if the booking and checkout online shopping experience was closer to that of fashion retailers and online food shops. One in ten even said they would book all elements of a holiday with their airline if they could. 

China Airlines selects IBS Software's iCargo platform to modernise its cargo operations

                       IBS Software, a global leader of SaaS solutions to the travel and cargo industry, has signed an agreement with China Airlines (CI), the leading Taiwanese carrier, to deploy IBS Software's iCargo solution as its new cargo management system. The aim is to facilitate CI's cargo digitization through iCargo's single platform to maximize the synergies across different entities and transform its cargo business globally.

With the new IBS Software platform, China Airlines will transition from their existing cargo system to a new single platform which includes sales, import and export operations, air mail handling and revenue accounting capabilities. It provides optimally automated digital technology for maximum efficiency and opportunities for sales management.

"China Airlines cargo has been endeavouring to modernize our digital capabilities for years. However, we see the evolutional change in digital sales and operations since COVID, and I believed SaaS is the right solution we are looking for," said Eddy Liu, Senior Vice President of Cargo, China Airlines. "We expect to build up a strong partnership with IBS Software and to realize faster time-to-market for our products and services without compromising compliance of data integrity."

"As a pioneer of APAC air cargo market and one of the heavyweight cargo players, China Airlines has extensive experience transporting special cargo and remains the carrier of choice for international transportation partners. We're honoured to be selected by China Airlines to support its growth journey," said Gautam Shekar, SVP and Region Head APAC and Middle East at IBS Software. "This agreement aligns with IBS Software's long-term strategy to further expand our presence in the exciting APAC market and help local customers modernise and add value to their cargo proposition."

China Airlines, the Taiwan-based carrier, was established in 1959 and has more than 10,000 employees worldwide. The China Airlines Group now operates a fleet of 112 aircraft, which includes 17 Boeing 747-400 and 5 Boeing 777 freighters. As a pioneer of APAC air cargo market, CI has extensive experience transporting special cargo such as precious relics, precision instruments, vehicles, large machinery, aerospace materials, artworks, and live animals. Well-known local and foreign companies have all made CI their preferred carrier for the transportation and transit of instruments and machinery. During the pandemic, CI quickly adopted a "prioritize cargo" business strategy to make the most use of freighter capacity and utilize the belly cargo holds of passenger aircraft utilized and assisted in delivering outstanding results.  In recent years, China Airlines has received major awards, including: Air Cargo World's Air Cargo Excellence Award and Air Cargo Executive of the Year Award; being named the "Best Cargo Airline - Asia" by Air Cargo News magazine.

Delta Cargo Selects IBS Software to Power Digital Transformation

Delta Cargo has selected IBS Software’s iCargo platform to digitally transform its operations, increase profitability and provide better service to customers and partners. The full iCargo management suite will be implemented to provide Delta Cargo with an end-to-end view of its air value chain, delivering real-time operational insight to enable proactive data-led business decision-making.

The partnership with IBS Software is the latest milestone in Delta Cargo’s mission to deploy innovative technology platforms that create new and differentiated experiences following a record revenue year in 2021. Key functions that will be improved include sales and inventory, cargo terminal operations, air mail management, customs and security, quality management and mobile applications. To ensure the success of this large and complex transformational program for Delta Cargo, IBS Software’s Consulting and Digital Transformation group will also play a key role in enabling transformation from a people, process and technology perspective. 

“Delta Cargo plays a vital role in Delta's future, and we have high ambitions to guarantee world-class experiences for every customer and partner,” said Rob Walpole, Vice President, Delta Cargo. “Fundamental to achieving that goal is investing in the technology platforms that allow us to deliver differentiated products and services while creating seamless processes for our team and partners. The iCargo platform is crucial to our goal to build on our momentum in air cargo and cements our position as a world-leading, technology-first carrier.”

iCargo’s cloud-based platform will seamlessly unify all aspects of sales and operations functions, modernize its technology toolkit with innovative capabilities and enable efficient communication with customers, partners and service providers via APIs.

“At Delta Cargo, our main priority is to continuously improve our processes and better our teams’ performance to provide an industry leading customer experience. In an effort to provide transparency and boost flexibility for our customers, we will replace our legacy operating system with iCargo from IBS Software” said Vishal Bhatnagar, Managing Director of Cargo Operations, Delta Cargo. “The new platform also allows Delta Cargo to align closer with JV partners.  With the conversion, we will improve our global operation including Delta and vendor managed locations.” 

“Delta Cargo is of great strategic significance to Delta Air Lines, one of the biggest and most progressive airlines in the world, and it is an honor to be selected to power such a major step in its digital transformation. By putting digital technology at the core of their operations, Delta Cargo is ideally positioned to optimize its services and provide a customer and partner experience that will drive growth for years to come. We’re thrilled that Delta has chosen us to be their partner in this transformation journey,” said Sam Shukla, Americas Region VP at IBS Software.