Jazeera Airways announced the signing of a new facilities management contract with Kuwait-based Intelligent Management Solutions (IMS). Under the terms of the contract, IMS will utilize its Computerized Aided Facilities Management System (CAFM IMS) to digitize operations systems and maintenance at Jazeera Terminal 5 (T5) and other facilities. This contract is a part Jazeera Airways’ commitment to support local businesses. Speaking about the contract, Naser Al Obaid, Chief Executive Officer, Jazeera Terminal 5, highlighted: “We are pleased to partner with Intelligent Management Solutions and benefit from their comprehensive digital operations and maintenance system to manage our facilities. It is also a matter of pride to be working with a Kuwaiti startup that has seen many successes in providing its services to local and regional companies.” Jazeera Terminal 5 (T5), fully owned and operated by Jazeera Airways aims to make the passenger journey faster and smoother. The recently upgraded terminal includes 24 check-in desks, five boarding gates, transit areas, food, and beverage options, Duty Free and retail outlets as well as service provider desks for the convenience of all passengers. A 350-vehicle parking building across the road is connected to the Terminal by a walking bridge making it easier to cross over or transfer luggage, especially during the summer months. With just one security check to be cleared for departures, passengers can relax till it’s time to board their flight. IMS is a startup company founded by Kuwaiti entrepreneur Faleh Alajmi. The company developed its proprietary Computerized Aided Facilities Management System (CAFM IMS) to enable companies to efficiently manage facilities, reduce maintenance costs and preserve asset values. The system, alongside the company’s services and solutions, has benefited government-owned and private companies …
Read More »Amadeus brings travel technology expertise to membership in the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
Amadeus has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) to bring its travel expertise to the table in the quest to support a more prosperous and responsible hospitality sector. As a leading, global player at the heart of the travel and tourism sector, Amadeus sees great potential to work alongside and connect with hospitality industry stakeholders and, together, contribute on the journey to the Alliance’s goal of Net Positive Hospitality – ensuring the industry gives back to destinations more than it takes. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, with donor members including 27 world-leading hotel companies with a combined reach of over 50,000 properties, brings together engaged hospitality companies and the wider hospitality value chain, such as owners, investors, and suppliers to address key challenges affecting people and places around the world related to hospitality. Through strategic initiatives and global networks, the organization develops practical programs to create a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that contributes to a positive net impact on destinations. As part of its membership, Amadeus will hold a permanent position on the Senior Advisory Council that was established to provide strategic advice, create a network of influential leaders and drive change towards Net Positive Hospitality. Key areas of focus for Amadeus include education, accessibility and helping travelers and guests make informed decisions. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, says: “Having Amadeus’ broad, global travel expertise in the discussion with the Alliance is a game changer. Onboarding Amadeus to our Senior Advisory Council is an important step in tackling the challenges the hospitality industry faces. Having Amadeus as a member will help drive our collaborative approach on the journey to Net Positive Hospitality. The Alliance is built for the …
Read More »Philippine Airlines employees fly high with IBS Software’s iFly Staff
Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its affiliate carrier, PAL Express (PALex), 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 …
Read More »Travelport becomes One Global Travel’s preferred GDS partner to support community of Travel Management Companies
Travelport announced that it is One Global Travel’s preferred Global Distribution System (GDS) partner. As the only GDS provider to One Global, the international community of leading independent travel management companies (TMCs) formed by World Travel Inc. and Clarity Business Travel Management, Travelport will provide access to retail ready content and superior search, shop and servicing capabilities delivered through the Travelport+ platform. One Global TMCs will also benefit from Travelport’s complete New Distribution Capability (NDC) solution, which empowers agents and travel managers to easily compare offers side-by-side and seamlessly service NDC bookings for their travelers. “At One Global we are 100% committed to building trusted and transparent relationships with our suppliers that bring true value to our international community of TMC partners,” said Polly Smoothy, Global Supplier Partnership Manager at One Global Travel. “Travelport is our preferred GDS partner of choice to deliver a broad range of travel content and technology tools.” “Business travel expectations are changing drastically, and employees want the ability to book and manage their work trips quickly, easily and with more control. That is why we designed Travelport+ to help TMCs operate as modern retailers and give travelers more self-service options,” said Paul Broughton, Director of Business Development, EMEA and APAC at Travelport. “Our partnership with One Global will drive modern retailing forward in the corporate travel sector, providing TMCs, their clients and business travelers with greater personalization, more convenience and truly modern experiences.”
Read More »Sabre and IAG expand partnership with multi-year distribution agreement including NDC content
Sabre Corporation entered into a multi-year distribution agreement with International Airlines Group (IAG) that will expand their existing partnership and further promote modern travel retailing practices. The agreement will allow Sabre-connected travel buyers and agencies to sell traditional EDIFACT content as well as having competitive access to NDC offers from British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling – including Additional Price Points and ancillaries – through the Sabre travel marketplace globally. This enhanced content will provide travel agencies with a wider range of options to compare and shop for, while travellers will benefit from an improved experience with more choice and transparency. Sabre and IAG’s airlines are working closely together and will communicate as NDC content is rolled out to Sabre-connected travel agencies on a carrier-by-carrier basis. The agreement between Sabre and IAG underscores the industry’s shift towards modern travel retailing, where airlines can differentiate their offerings and provide more personalised experiences to travellers. Both Sabre and IAG are committed to advancing the NDC standard as a key component in the industry’s evolution towards modern airline retailing enabled by offers and orders. Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are on a journey to A Better BA and we continue to invest across the business as part of that commitment. Not only are we improving the experience of those customers who fly with us, but also the way we work with our valued travel agent and travel buyer partners. We understand how valuable retailing is to them, and IAG’s partner-ship with Sabre allows us to make a wide range of attractable offers available even further across the globe.” This agreement is another milestone in the IAG strategy to embrace …
Read More »Travelport’s new deal with easyJet brings expanded content to all Agency customers
Travelport and easyJet, announced they have signed a new content distribution agreement that will bring more enriched easyJet content to all of Travelport’s agency customers – now including OTAs for the first time. The multi-year deal confirms that travel retailers using Travelport+ will have access to all easyJet fare types and bundles that the airline has made available to distribution partners, including ancillaries, without any agency channel restrictions. The addition of easyJet’s Standard Plus fare bundles (including seat selection and large cabin bag) and Essential fare bundles (including seat selection and checked bag) which complement the existing fares of Standard, Business Inclusive and Flexi, will significantly enrich the options available for both business and leisure travelers. Agents using Travelport+ will be able to shop and compare easyJet’s products all in one place, so they can easily upsell and personalize offers for their travelers. Travelport’s enhanced servicing capabilities also ensure agents can seamlessly manage easyJet bookings, including modifications and exchanges. “We’re bringing more easyJet content to Travelport+ so that travel retailers across the globe can create more personalized offers and provide superior service to our customers,” said Dominic Tucker, Senior Distribution Manager at easyJet. “Our partnership with Travelport helps us deliver more choice and connectivity to the market so that travelers flying easyJet can easily customize their experience and add-on extras when they book in any channel, whether they are traveling for leisure, business, or both.” “This new deal means that Travelport-connected agencies can access easyJet’s dynamic offers effortlessly, so they can book the best options for travelers based on their needs and preferences,” said David Gomes, Head of Regional Air Partners, EMEA at Travelport. “By opening up easyJet content to …
Read More »Riyadh Air collaborates with Accenture to build core technology capabilities
Riyadh Air has signed a three-year strategic agreement with Accenture to help deliver its technology foundation and capabilities as part of its vision to be the world’s first digitally native airline. The initiative will enable Riyadh Air to operate in a new era of aviation with digital services at its core, using cutting-edge technologies such as cloud data and AI to help deliver a seamless travel experience for its guests and employees. The core enterprise system will enable the company to scale as it aims to offer over 100 destinations by 2030. Accenture will help set up Riyadh Air’s cloud-only infrastructure, cybersecurity capabilities, managed services and operations as the airline gears up for its launch. Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer of Riyadh Air, said, “As a digitally native airline, Riyadh Air will be at the forefront of innovation and technology, allowing us to deliver world-class service to our guests. There is a considerable amount of unseen work taking place behind the scenes enabling both our operations and user experience, with Accenture, as our strategic technology partner, helping us to deliver, secure and operate foundational capabilities.” Emily Weiss, senior managing director at Accenture and head of its Travel practice globally, said, “The launch of Riyadh Air is a landmark moment for the aviation industry as a whole; a brand-new airline that’s designed from the ground up, harnessing the latest technologies to create hyper-connected experiences that meet the demands of today’s, and tomorrow’s travelers. Drawing on our deep industry and digital expertise, we are proud to be collaborating with Riyadh Air to help shape the future of travel.” Boukadida added, “Accenture is pivotal in enabling Riyadh Air’s cloud-first strategy, and our unique …
Read More »Riyadh Air selects Swiss Aviation Software to power its engineering function and assist its sustainability plans
Swiss-AS officially announced the signing of a strategic agreement with the emerging Saudi Arabian airline Riyadh Air, for the implementation of our Aviation Maintenance and Engineering software solution AMOS. As a national carrier, Riyadh Air will play a significant role in promoting Saudi Arabia’s economic and cultural interests globally, aiding in the development of Riyadh as a major destination in the Middle East. The signing ceremony took place in Dubai, with representatives from both Riyadh Air and Swiss-AS present to celebrate the occasion after their extraordinary debut at Dubai Airshow 2023 and the unveiling of several commercial agreements with leading companies such as IBM, Lucid Motors, Lufthansa Systems, and Saudia. The newly signed partnership will involve aligning AMOS’s capabilities with Riyadh Air’s strategic goals, such as enhancing customer satisfaction, improving operational reliability, and driving innovation in maintenance operations. AMOS as a best-in-class solution The selection of AMOS follows a rigorous and meticulous evaluation, which positioned AMOS as the comprehensive software solution that will seamlessly integrate with Riyadh Air’s evolving ecosystem IT systems landscape. The airline is currently in the process of selecting and defining the solutions essentials for its commercial operations planned for 2025. A critical aspect of this partnership relies on AMOS’s ability to integrate Riyadh Air’s evolving fleet, accommodate new aircraft types and drive the carrier’s sustainability mission for engineering. AMOS is planned to closely integrate with the carriers’ digital initiatives to reach its sustainability goals. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Riyadh Air’s commitment to optimise its maintenance operations from the very start, with the goal of achieving the highest overall efficiency through AMOS. AMOS will be covering all aspects of the maintenance, engineering, and logistics …
Read More »Virgin Atlantic signs renewed distribution agreement with Travelport, Including NDC content and servicing
Virgin Atlantic and Travelport announced a renewed agreement. The deal includes distribution of all Virgin Atlantic content, including, subject to implementation, future distribution of NDC through the Travelport+ platform. This renewed agreement strengthens the ongoing travel retailing relationship between Travelport and Virgin Atlantic, ensuring that Travelport-connected agencies have continued access to Virgin’s most robust, enriched content in the Travelport+ platform. Additionally, Virgin Atlantic is using Travelport’s complete branding solution to enhance the way products and ancillaries are displayed on agents’ screens with rich graphics and detailed descriptions, so that agents can seamlessly shop, compare and personalize options for travelers. “Our renewed agreement with Travelport, along with Virgin Atlantic’s future delivery of NDC content, illustrates our commitment to drive value and deliver modern retailing experiences for the agency community and our travelers,” said Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic. “Travelport+ offers retailing and merchandizing capabilities that ensures travel retailers can provide our customers with more choices and the best options from Virgin Atlantic.” “With this new deal, we will support Virgin’s modern retailing strategy with NDC collaboration and Travelport+ capabilities that make it easy for agents to search, sell and service the best offers,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport. “Our long-standing partnership with Virgin Atlantic will bring more value to the industry as we focus on delivering the seamless experiences agents need to provide travelers with personalized offers and the superior service that they expect.”
Read More »Travelport investors commit $570 million in new equity financing to bolster capital structure and accelerate long-term growth and innovation
Travelport Worldwide Limited announced that a group of its existing equity holders and lenders have agreed to invest $570 million of new equity financing into the Company. The new financing will give Travelport a robust capital structure, enable further investment into Travelport’s technology platforms and pave the way for other innovations to deliver new and exceptional ways for the travel industry to serve customers. The new investment in Travelport is being made pursuant to an agreement that will significantly deleverage and strengthen the Company’s balance sheet (the “Transaction”). Following completion of the Transaction, Travelport will have a new ownership structure composed of Travelport’s existing equity and credit investors, including Elliott Investment Management, Davidson Kempner Capital Management, Canyon Partners, Siris Capital and other leading institutional investors. These investors will remain well positioned to provide strategic counsel and support to the Company’s management. “This investment demonstrates our investors’ support for Travelport and will advance our mission to reinvent a better future for the travel industry,” said Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer of Travelport. “With this new investment, Travelport will have a strong balance sheet with the least amount of debt amongst its peers, which we believe will put the Company in an even better position for long-term, profitable growth. Most importantly, this Transaction will further strengthen our operating business and accelerate our investments in Travelport+ and other initiatives that make us the most innovative and agile partner to all our customers. We thank our investors for their significant vote of confidence in Travelport.” In the last year, Travelport has undertaken several successful strategic investments and initiatives to enhance the technology, products and services it provides to customers. These include the acquisition of …
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