News Roundup: Airlines forming partnership are in focus with Malaysia Airlines codesharing with LATAM Airlines Group, Japan Airlines in NDC partnership with Amadeus, Etihad’s tie-up with Norwegian tech firm to develop travel solution, Mongolian Airlines’ collaboration with Sabre to grow routes
Malaysia Airlines codeshares with Chile’s LATAM to build footprint in South America
Malaysia Airlines is offering its passengers more options to explore Chile, and the rest of South America, through a codeshare agreement it recently inked with LATAM Airlines Group.
Travellers from Malaysia can connect to Chile’s capital Santiago via Auckland (New Zealand), Sydney or Melbourne (Australia) from this month. These services are marketed with Malaysia Airlines’ MH flight code.
In turn, LATAM customers can connect to Kuala Lumpur via the same cities in Oceania on Malaysia Airlines flights carrying the Chilean airline’s LA code.
“This new codeshare agreement further reinforces our commitment to provide a greater choice in destination for our passengers, giving the widest possible range of options for their travels,” said Malaysia Airlines Group chief executive officer, Captain Izham Ismail. “With this, we will be able to build our footprint in South America, with Chile acting as a gateway for Malaysians to explore the region.”
Malaysia Airlines recently teamed up with a number of airlines to land in more global destinations. It expanded its codeshare with Qatar Airways in January, and sealed a joint business deal with Japan Airlines in May (approved in December by authorities in both countries).
These two partnerships had led to speculations they were preludes by both Qatar Airlines and Japan Airlines to taking a stake in the loss-making Malaysian carrier. Both airlines have since denied they were going to invest in Malaysian Airlines, which is still looking for a suitable strategic partner to help reverse its fortune.
Japan Airlines makes NDC contents available on Amadeus Travel platform
Japan Airlines (JAL) is integrating its New Distribution Capability (NDC) contents into Amadeus Travel Platform for distribution using Amadeus NDC Connect.
The implementation makes JAL’s NDC content available to travel sellers worldwide, helping the airline enhance the retailing and servicing of its offers across channels.
This latest move follows JAL’s inking of an extended distribution and IT agreement with Amadeus in October last year, making the tech firm the airline’s recommended distribution partner in the Japanese market.
“New technology such as NDC will enrich our customers’ experience and support the long-term digital transformation strategy of JAL. We are aiming to differentiate our travel offers based on value rather than just price,” said Yoriyuki Kashiwagi, executive officer, managing division passenger sales of JAL.
Cyril Tetaz, Amadeus’ executive vice president, airlines, Asia Pacific, noted that with airlines on a digital transformation journey, NDC is one of the ways they can improve their retailing capabilities. JAL’s adoption of NDC Connect enables it to work “in an agile and simple manner to support its long-term digital innovation strategy to effectively distribute NDC.”
Etihad Airways to launch subscription-based travel solution
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is developing a new travel solution, called TravelPass, in partnership with Norwegian tech company Braathens IT.
TravelPass, which will be available later this year, is aimed initially at the airline’s corporate and frequent travellers.
With the subscription-based travel solution Eithad can offer its frequent guests flexibility and ease in making their regular and recurring travel arrangements, streamlining the booking process.
Customers can purchase a TravelPass for a set number of trips or a particular travel period instead of purchasing flights one by one.
Robin Kamark, chief commercial officer at Etihad, said the TravelPass would offer “a revolutionary booking experience for corporate and frequent clients who will also be enrolled into our award-winning Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme.”
TravelPass will be available on the Etihad website when launched, and booking can be made on a desktop or mobile.
“By simplifying the travel process to just a few clicks, our guests have a seamless transaction through a platform that holds all your details in one place, gives you the flexibility to make changes to your bookings without fees and gives you the choice to pay later,” Kamark explained. “We know our corporate clients are time-poor and believe this innovative addition to our digital offering will improve the travel journey for subscribers.”
Braathens IT’s chief executive officer Svein Therkelsen, in describing Etihad as an “an innovative player”, said the airline “is going to take sophisticated digital personalisation very far, everything from ease of use to customisation.” With TravelPass it “will continue in that direction to improve its customers’ digital experience”.
According to Etihad, subscription-based travel is “good news for the aviation industry as it provides customers with the choice between prepaid trips and pay-as-you-fly options”, in addition to a seamless booking experience and cost-efficient travel and management.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines leverages Sabre solution to expand its global reach
MIAT Mongolian Airlines (MIAT) has formed a “new alliance” with Sabre Corporation as it eyes expansion within Asia and to long haul destinations including the United States.
The airline will use Sabre Market Intelligence Global Demand Data solution to provide market insights for its growth plans. Additionally, the data will assist MIAT in commercial planning including revenue management and sales.
“Our plans to grow our fleet and routes, our passenger numbers and our revenue are directly in line with the exponential growth that the country’s tourism industry is currently witnessing,” said Battur Davaakhuu, president & CEO of MIAT.
Dasha Kuksenko, vice president and regional general manager – North Asia at Sabre Travel Solutions, added MIAT’s expansion plans “have the potential to increase revenue for the airline and to have a meaningful impact on the Mongolian travel and tourism industry as a whole.”
Mongolia is one of the fastest growing travel destination in the world with its natural beauty and unique offerings. The Mongolian Ministry of Environment and Tourism has set a goal of one million foreign tourists and US$1 billion in tourism revenue for this year.
• Featured image credit (view of Santiago city): leonardospencer/Getty Images
