Technology

SINGAPORE and Bangkok,9 December 2024 Sabre Corporation had announced an expansion of its longstanding relationship with Thai Airways. The national carrier of Thailand has selected Sabre’s advanced Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer solutions to enhance its pricing capabilities and drive incremental revenue opportunities. This agreement further strengthens the alliance between Sabre and Thai Airways, which already includes a long-term distribution agreement. By adopting Sabre Fares Manager together with Fares Optimizer, Thai Airways is poised to streamline its fares management processes, respond more effectively to market dynamics, enhance analyst productivity, and optimize pricing strategies to maintain a competitive edge. “Thai Airways is committed to delivering the best value to our passengers while ensuring we maintain our competitive positioning in the market,” said Nuthaphol Amawatana, Head of Pricing and Revenue Management, Thai Airways. “By using Sabre’s advanced fares management solutions, we can efficiently monitor competitor fare activities and quickly adjust our pricing strategies to capture revenue opportunities. This collaboration with Sabre enables us to refine our pricing approach, ensuring that we offer the right fares at the right time to our customers.” Sabre’s Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer empower airlines to proactively manage their fares, analyze market trends, and make data-driven pricing decisions with speed and precision. By automating benchmarking and optimizing fare structures, Sabre’s solutions help airlines enhance analyst productivity, refine pricing strategies, and ultimately boost profitability. Thai Airways recently added new widebody aircraft to its fleet, as well as increasing frequencies on popular flights, adding new routes, and reestablishing international routes, including to Oslo and Milan. “Airlines today face unprecedented challenges in managing the sheer volume and frequency of fare changes,” said Rakesh Narayanan, Vice President, Regional General Manager, Asia Pacific, Travel Solutions Airline Sales. “Our Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer solutions are designed to address these challenges by providing integrated end-to-end automation and intelligence. We are thrilled to deepen our alliance with Thai Airways and support their continued success in an increasingly complex and competitive marketplace.”

São José dos Campos, Brazil, November 25, 2024: Embraer has finalized the implementation of the ONEChain Program, an initiative to support the Company growth’s strategy that leverages digital transformation to help improve the management of its supply chain. The ONEChain platform was designed to simplify and digitalize supply chain operations by fostering greater transparency, agility, and collaboration through an integrated process that benefits both Embraer and its suppliers worldwide. By adopting and disseminating the best practices in the market, ONEChain has enabled the company to improve governance, standardize processes, reduce costs and expenses, increase competitiveness, agility, and productivity, as well as to digitize and unify a large part of the supply chain processes in an innovative way. “In addition to achieving enhanced operational efficiency, we have integrated all operations with our suppliers and partners in a single platform, which makes it possible to manage operations in real-time,” says Roberto Chaves, Embraer’s Executive Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply. “This guarantees a more leveled and uniform production of our products, a reduction in fixed and variable costs, and more agile decision-making processes. Recently, the ONEChain program was recognized at the Procurement Success Summit (PSS) in China, being awarded in two categories: Process Innovation Award and Procurement Ecosystem Award. “Being recognized at this global, top-level procurement award ceremony makes us very proud of the ONEChain Program, which is setting a new standard in digital transformation, supplier collaboration, and operational excellence,” added Roberto Chaves. The program has been implemented in Brazil and countries where Embraer operates: the United States, China, Singapore, as well as France, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Singapore, 04, Nov 2024: Singapore Airlines (SIA) is investing S$1.1 billion in a multi-year programme to install its all-new long-haul cabin products across 41 Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range (ULR) aircraft, redefining the premium travel experience on its network. In a significant milestone, the Airline will introduce a luxurious First Class cabin in its seven A350-900ULR aircraft, setting new industry benchmarks for travel on the world’s longest routes. Designed with increasingly discerning travellers in mind, these plushFirst Class seats promise to deliver an unparalleled in-flight experience. Business Class customers can look forward to an elevated travel experience with SIA’s upcoming Business Class seats, featuring innovative designs that will offer even greater levels of privacy, comfort, and convenience in all 41 aircraft. These A350-900 First Class and Business Class products are designed from the ground up, with a spacious layout and ergonomic elements that cater to every customer’s needs. These are the same seat designs that will feature on SIA’s upcoming Boeing 777-9 aircraft. Premium Economy Class and Economy Class cabinswill also be refreshed to enhance the travel experience for customers. Complementing the cabin products, the next version of SIA’s KrisWorld in-flight entertainment (IFE) system will offer greater personalisation and an extensive range of lifestyle options across all cabin classes. First Class and Business Class seats will also feature new in-flight entertainment screens. Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said,“Over the past six years, we have extensively engaged customers and stakeholders in the design of our next-generation long-haul cabin products, anticipating their evolving preferences and expectations down to the finest detail. “The new First Class and Business Class seat designs will incorporate thoughtful elements that push the boundaries of comfort, luxury, and modernity, allowing our customers to relax or work effortlessly on board. Premium Economy Class and Economy Class customers can also look forward to refreshed cabin interiors that enhance their travel experience. “The S$1.1 billion investment in retrofitting our 41 A350 aircraft reaffirms Singapore Airlines’ unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional travel experience. The introduction of these next-generation seats and KrisWorld system, together with the world-renowned warm and attentive service of our cabin crew, will set new standards in innovation, customer experience, and service excellence.” The aircraft will be retrofitted by SIA Engineering Company in Singapore. The first retrofitted A350-900 long-haul aircraft is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2026, while the first A350-900ULR variant will follow in the first quarter of 2027. The entire programme is targeted for completion by the end of 2030. Post-retrofit, the 34 A350-900 long-haul aircraft will be configured with 42 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy Class seats, and 192 Economy Class seats. The seven A350-900ULR variants will feature four First Class seats, 70 Business Class seats, and 58 Premium Economy Class seats.

Delhi, 14th October, 2024: Honeywell Automation India Limited (HAIL) has secured a contract to provide its Airfield Ground Lighting (“AGL”) system for the Noida International Airport (“NIA”). These systems will provide visual guidance to aircraft, increasing safety and streamlining operations across the tarmac. Honeywell’s visual aids will play a crucial role in helping aircraft maneuver the tarmac in difficult weather conditions and will support landing and on-ramp safety. Honeywell’s advanced AGL uses ‘intelligent lighting’ technology, which makes the ground taxi process easier for pilots. AGL will also help pilots improve their own situational awareness by automatically switching lights on and off based on information shared by aircraft surveillance and tracking systems with tower controllers. Noida International Airport represents a significant leap forward in advancing India’s aviation sector, and we are pleased to have secured this visionary project, ensuring the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency with our advanced technology,” said Atul Pai, Managing Director, Honeywell Automation India Limited (HAIL). Christoph Schnellmann, CEO, Noida International Airport said, “We are delighted to partner with Honeywell to bring their Airfield Ground Lighting system to Noida International Airport. The implementation of the state-of-the-art system will ensure superior visual guidance and operational efficiency, aligning with our mission to provide a safe and seamless experience for all airport users.” The project covers the supply, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of Honeywell’s AGL system on runway 10L-28R and the associated taxiways at NIA. Honeywell has a broad portfolio of technologies in use at airports across India and also has end-to-end AGL system operations in the country, including design, manufacturing, assembly, installation, commissioning, and service support. The first phase of the airport will feature one runway and one terminal, with the capacity to handle traffic of 12 million passengers annually. Upon completion of all four development phases, the airport will be able to cater to 70 million passengers per year.

LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT, UK,July 23 2024: An advanced airborne 5G connectivity system has been successfully integrated to a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, completing a series of demonstration flights. The groundbreaking technology is being developed by a number of UK companies led by Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL), a leading Non-Terrestrial Networks telecoms developer, with design, integration and demonstration flights provided by manufacturer Britten-Norman. SPL is at the forefront of developing airborne antennas to deliver widescale high performance 5G coverage. This technology offers numerous valuable applications, such as quickly restoring networks after major disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis, where traditional mobile network infrastructure has been disrupted. On 18th July 2024, the project team were joined by distinguished guests from potential customers and investors to observe the installation of the array under real flight conditions during an event at Britten-Norman’s Solent Airport aircraft maintenance (MRO) facility. The trial, conducted by Britten-Norman’s Flight Test Organisation, aimed to demonstrate the aircraft’s capability to operate safely with the large 5G phased array antenna installed. Key aspects of the flight test programme included assessment of aircraft performance and handling qualities, covering both normal and emergency operation. This will support full certification of the system, enabling integration in terrestrial telecoms network at connection speeds of up to 200Mbps over 15,000km2. The turboprop BN2T-4S Islander variant was chosen for its robust design, all-weather capability, exceptional endurance and payload capacity. In addition, the aircraft’s modular design makes it an ideal platform for integration of large mission system payloads, whilst retaining a rapid re-role capability for other taskings. The next phase of the project involves demonstrating the technology via a connection to a private UK-based national 5G telecommunications network. This innovative project represents a significant leap forward in airborne telecommunications, bringing reliable, high-speed 5G connectivity from the sky one step closer to fruition. Richard Deakin, CEO at Stratospheric Platforms Limited said: “Stratospheric Platforms is dedicated to creating pioneering innovative solutions that transform the connectivity landscape. Our commitment to delivering high-altitude, zero-carbon, long-endurance communication platforms will revolutionize how the world stays connected, especially in remote and underserved regions. We believe that our cutting-edge technology will provide unprecedented opportunities for global communication and create a more connected and inclusive world. Today’s flight test is an important step in the continuing validation of our technology breakthroughs.” Dr Garnet Ridgway, Head of Flight Dynamics at Britten-Norman, remarked: “This project demonstrates the full capabilities of both Britten-Norman as an accomplished trials organisation and the turboprop Islander as a highly capable trials aircraft. Working closely with our partners, the project includes deliverables from our design, manufacture, MRO, flight test and flight operations teams. It’s always satisfying to deliver a safe and effective flight test programme, but the huge potential of SPL’s system and the collaborative nature of the team made this one particularly exciting. The large and complex nature of the system places significant demands on the host aircraft. However, the BN2T-4S performed admirably; the combination of payload capacity, endurance, climb performance, twin engine reliability, robustness and electrical power generation makes it unbeatable for this mission.”

Abu Dhabi, 3rd May 2024: Etihad Airways has launched reciprocal interline partnerships with five new airline partners, further expanding travel options for guests across its expanding global network.The airline has agreed partnerships with Kam Air in Afghanistan, SKY express in Greece, Rex Airlines in Australia, Jeju Air in Korea and Myanmar Airways International. The interline agreements give customers of all airlines involved enhanced connectivity to destinations across each other’s networks, enabling guests to book their entire journey on a single ticket and have their baggage checked through seamlessly to their end destination. Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said: “We continue to broaden our network reach enabling seamless connection across our network, giving our guests a broader range of travel options. These five interline agreements make life easier for guests of all the airlines involved.” These new partnerships offer a range of new options for Etihad’s guests. At Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport guests from all over the world can connect to the Kam Air flight to Kabul and travel onward into Afghanistan.Guests flying on Etihad’s twice daily flights to Athens, can connect onwards with SKY express to 28 destinations in Greece and its beautiful Mediterranean islands.Rex Airlines provides travellers with effortless access from Etihad’s gateways in Sydney and Melbourne to 22 destinations in Australia, including Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. With Jeju Air guests can continue their journey from Seoul to 27 destinations across seven countries in Northeast Asia.Links with Myanmar Airways International will give enhanced access to Yangon and Mandalay through Etihad’s gateways in South Asia. Etihad now has 123 interline, codeshare and strategic partnerships with airlines across the world. The expanded interline offerings are available to book now across Etihad sales channels, including Etihad.com and travel agents.

Gurugram, 20 March 2024: Air India will be offering Self-Service Check-in and Self Baggage Drop facilities for its passengers travelling to San Francisco from the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru from today onwards.The facility is already available for the domestic flights of Air India from the airport and plans are underway to extend this service to Singapore and Male, the two other international destinations Air India operates to from Bengaluru. The automated initiative will offer a smooth and seamless airport experience to a large number of our tech-savvy guests travelling from Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, to the US Silicon Valley – the tech hub of the world. Inaugurating the facility, Donald Hunter, Head Global Airport Operations and Ground Handling,Air India, said, “We are focussed on elevating customer experience at every touchpoint. This facility eliminates waiting time for check-in at the counters and offers our passengers a smooth pre-boarding experience. We have plans to extend this facility for our flights at more Indian and global airports.” Senior officials from BIAL, CISF and Air India were present on the occasion. The automated self check-in and baggage drop facilities will offer Air India passengers a seamless experience from printing boarding passes or baggage tags, and dropping their baggage at designated slots on their own, obviating the need to check in over the counters. This will not only save precious time and ensure a seamless check-in experience for our passengers but also offer them more freedom to enjoy their travel experience. Passengers can now customise their trips by selecting their preferred seats, if available, update frequent flyer details, and enjoy other facilities from the kiosk itself. Earlier, Air India had introduced an integrated self-baggage drop and self-kiosk check-in service at Terminal 3, Delhi airport for domestic and only Australia-bound international flights.

Delhi, 25th Feb 2024: In a significant move to enhance educational tourism, Mastereign Group (Singapore) and STIC Travel Group (India)announced an exclusive partnership agreement. This collaboration marked a milestone for both organizations, aiming to introduce innovative educational tours specifically designed for Indian students. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Terry Lim, Managing Director for Mastereign Group said, “We at Mastereign Group are thrilled to embark on this partnership with STIC, marking a significant step towards enriching the educational journey of Indian students through immersive and fun-filled interactive experiences in Singapore. This learning travel programme is an opportunity to foster global understanding, cultural exchange, and the development of international perspectives among students. By blending the cultural heritage and innovative landscape particularly in sustainable development of Singapore with the vibrant energy and aspirations of Indian students, we aim to create unforgettable learning experiences that instruct, impact and inspire. Together, we are setting the stage for a new era of educational excellence and international collaboration.” Under this exclusive partnership, Mastereign will be conducting educational tours in Singapore, offering students from India an unparalleled opportunity to explore the country’s sustainability and technological efforts, cultural heritage and educational excellence. STIC Travel Group will serve as the exclusive sales and marketing partner in India, leveraging its extensive network of channel partners and sales expertise to promote these co-created and branded educational tour packages, along with other add-on programs tailored to the students’ enrichment learning and development needs through fun filled experiential activities. STIC will also have exclusive access to Mastereign’s holistic range of add-on programs for the India Educational Tour market. “We are delighted to bring such a meaningful partnership to the Indian travel landscape that prioritizes education and responsible learning,” said Mr. Subhash Goyal, Chairman of STIC Travel Group. “At STIC, we are committed to working with organizations that share our philosophy on travel as a means of lifelong learning, and the Mastereign Group, with their experience in providing best-in-class enrichment programs in Singapore, is the perfect partner to launch such a product.” In reference to the significance of educational tours, Mr. Goyal emphasized, “Educational tours are a vital component of student development, offering unique experiences that foster learning, cultural exchange, and personal growth. Through this partnership, Mastereign and STIC are committed to providing students with immersive educational experiences that go beyond traditional classroom learning.”

GENEVA,23rd February 2024: SITA is celebrating its 75th anniversary, marking seven and a half decades of groundbreaking innovation, unwavering commitment, and exceptional service to the aviation industry. Founded in 1949 by 11 pioneering airlines, SITA has been owned by the air transport industry and driven by its needs since its inception. SITA’s history is one of constant technological innovation, starting in 1950 when it took its first steps towards creating the world’s largest data network, which stretched across 75 communication centers for 52 airline members by 1957. In 1966, SITA launched the world’s first working network to use packet switching principles, continuing to harness the most cutting-edge developments in IT and telecommunications—even contributing to the creation of the internet in 1969 by activating the world’s first nodal distributed network. Over the decades, as SITA continued to constantly improve and build upon its network, it also expanded its expertise to support airlines, airports, and governments in processing passengers and baggage, managing borders, driving digital efficiencies and sustainability for aircraft, and beyond. In 1984, in time to support the needs of airlines, airports, and passengers for the Los Angeles Olympic Games, SITA introduced its Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) system which multiplied tenfold the number of airlines a domestic US terminal could handle. SITA’s involvement in key global sporting events did not end there, from developing the world’s first e-visa system for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, to working closely with government, airport, and airline stakeholders to integrate digital identity and travel authorization for fans’ smooth arrival at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In 2017, SITA introduced its ground-breaking biometric ID management technology SITA Smart Path for seamless passenger journeys, supporting airports’ and airlines’ shift to touchless, digital travel through the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving into the future with universal digital identities. “As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, we remain steadfast in our commitment to reinvent travel and transport,” said David Lavorel, CEO at SITA. “Our vision is fueled by our passion for the industry, our forward-looking expertise, and our dedication to positively impacting our customers’ business.” SITA’s focus on the fast-evolving industry is evident in its strategic direction, which emphasizes flexibility, agility, and innovation. The company is committed to continued transitions to Cloud and SaaS solutions, as well as frictionless end-to-end journeys with data insights and visibility to optimize operations and touchpoints across the journey. Key priorities include the industry’s operational excellence, digital transformation and sustainability, including turnaround optimization, fully biometric journeys, and efficient aircraft. “As we look ahead, SITA remains dedicated to shaping the future of travel and transport,” added Lavorel. “Our continuous investments in innovation and strategic initiatives underscore our commitment to driving positive industry change. Our strategic direction reflects significant self-funded investments to explore opportunities and achieve sustainable organic and inorganic growth. We are committed to delivering against top agenda items, including operational excellence, sustainability, agility, and resilience.” SITA’s leadership role in the travel and transport industry extends to achieving leadership in fast-evolving trends, technologies, and industry requirements. The company is focused on building on its existing leadership as well as new growth areas such as regional airports, vertiports, sustainability, air traffic management, digital travel, and identities, as well as the maritime and rail industries.