SITA is helping Costa Cruises mitigate costly trip disruptions by providing accurate real-time flight updates via a cloud-based application equipped with an intuitive user interface, the operations team can link each flight to the associated vessel and the relevant booking codes. Costa Cruises, part of the Carnival Group, offers Fly & Cruise packages encompassing both dedicated charter flights and scheduled flights. The flight updates provided by SITA Flight Monitoring Solution will empower Costa Cruises’ Operations Control Center (OCC) to handle the embarkation and disembarkation process for Fly & Cruise guests more efficiently, as well as improve planning for crew movements and allocations. In the event of a cancelled or delayed flight, this continuously refreshed set of data becomes crucial for promptly arranging guest transfers to the next port of call, minimizing associated costs, avoiding inefficiencies, and ensuring a first-class guest experience. Similarly, disembarking guests at the right moment enables them to continue enjoying their time onboard the ship while allowing Costa Cruises to optimize airport transfers. The application leverages SITA Flight Global APIs and offers direct integration with the airlines to benefit from real-time updates, even for charter flights. Massimo Callegari, Director Guest & Corporate Travel Service at Costa Cruises, said: “At Costa, it was imperative to find a supplier that could offer accurate and timely flight updates through a cloud-based solution featuring a user-friendly interface and direct integration with the charter airlines. Significant operational challenges are shared between cruise companies and airlines, and, with its strong footprint in the air transport industry, SITA clearly understands how they could help us enhance the management of our Fly & Cruise operations.” Sergio Colella, President for Europe at SITA, said: “The world …
Read More »KlasJet expands in Middle East Market, will operate 68-Seat Aircraft from Dubai
KlasJet and an ACMI leasing service provider, recently introduced the Boeing BBJ2 to the Middle East market and now is continuing its expansion in the region. The company has announced plans to operate a luxurious Boeing 737 from a base in Dubai, catering to the growing demand for exclusive private and corporate air travel in the area. With the Middle East being one of the fastest-growing business aviation markets in the world, KlasJet has identified a potential niche in the region. “The Middle East market was dominated by smaller business jets and 2-class configuration aircraft,” explains Lukas Petrauskas, CCO at KlasJet. “However, there was a lack of options for larger groups or delegations. Therefore, we are confident that our luxury Boeing 737 will be an ideal choice for extended families, sports teams, business travellers, and political delegations who require a comfortable and convenient mode of travel for their group.” The Boeing 737, exclusively designed by KlasJet, features 68 spacious and comfortable business-class seats, ensuring a luxurious and high-quality experience for all passengers onboard. The aircraft is meticulously crafted with attention to detail, offering subtle yet luxurious touches throughout the cabin to enhance the travel experience. Aside from a unique aircraft interior layout, KlasJet also offers exceptional passenger care. “We believe in delivering an all-encompassing experience that surpasses our clients’ expectations. We pay attention to even the smallest details, both inside and outside the private jet, to create a personalised and exceptional travel experience. Our crew members are well-trained in various fields such as human psychology, fine dining, sommelier courses, protocol-related behaviour, professional presentation, and culture-specific nuances, including tailored cabin crew uniforms that adhere to specific cultural norms,” he explains. In …
Read More »Emirates rallies leaders to pave the path for robust growth and recovery
‘Beyond Better, Forward Together’ went way beyond a catchy tagline for Emirates’ Commercial Operations Management Conference, delivering action-packed, high-voltage sessions for more than 300 of its leaders and senior executives based globally and locally. Over two days this week, the audience were taken through an inspirational journey that mapped out Emirates’ solid strategy around fleet, destinations, products, and unimaginable growth – all wrapped around the airline’s hub Dubai. Dinner at the Museum of the Future, Dubai’s latest iconic attraction and a strategic partner of the airline, served as a fitting backdrop for the programme on day one. All of it was topped by an impromptu visit by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group that brought the attendees to their feet. Invited speakers enlivened the conference with their take on aviation, tourism and the economy. Speakers included: HE Helal Saeed Al-Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism; Arjun Vir Singh, Partner with Arthur D. Little’s Financial Services Practice; and Nawal K. Taneja, consultant and author with more than five decades of experience in aviation. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “We are once again firmly set on the path of a massive growth trajectory in travel, and Emirates is ready and revving up to optimise every opportunity, as is Dubai. This conference was one of our biggest platforms to rally our leaders and senior executives, who are also some of Emirates and Dubai’s biggest brand advocates globally. They’ve now witnessed first-hand the many exciting initiatives rolled out by the airline and the city over the past two years, thanks to strong and visionary leadership. We’re absolutely thrilled with …
Read More »Travel Tech ME Congress concludes in Dubai
The first edition of the Travel Tech ME Congress concluded at Marriot Al Jaddaf in Dubai, UAE. The event gathered 100 technology experts, travel agents, airline operators and airport officials to provide a forum of exchange on the current technologies in tourism. Organised by Verve Management, the two-day congress started with Diego Lofeudo, Director of Business Unit, Corporate, Yas Marina Circuit, UAE who made the official welcome address. Conference Chairman, Albert Fernando, COO, Travelwings opened day two of Travel Tech ME Congress, where he said, “A great initiative for Verve Management, that has helped tourism stakeholders better understand and share future trends in travel technology. The industry looks forward to the congress next year, bringing in even more experts in travel technology.”Several presentations over two days shed light on the latest innovations happening across the world in terms of travel and tourism. Albert Dias, Co-founder & CTO, Musafir discussed the importance of sub-second search speed and its effect on a travelers’ decision-making process.Juan Iván Martín, Head of Innovation, FDS, from IATA discussed travel blockchain, the introduction of the IATA coin as payment methods and how hackathons such as the IATA-NDC Hackathon-2016 in Dubai have helped the airline industry as well as the hotel and travel industries by introducing innovative ideas, and applications that have been implemented and increased revenue in the travel and tourism industry in the region. From blockchain, IATA coins being implemented, disruption, the importance of sub-second search speed, web technologies challenging today’s relevance and the future existence of mobile apps. The two-day conference was concluded with a panel discussion of the lessons learned and the way forward, on the evolution in the hotel distribution system.
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