THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology sector – new partnerships, product launches, aviation industry updates, innovative solutions, and more …
Singapore Airlines, NUS set up aviation lab to redefine passenger air travel experience
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have set up a new digital aviation corporate laboratory to spur digital innovation In Singapore’s aviation sector.
The S$45 million research facility will co-create innovative technologies and solutions, which will accelerate the digital transformation of Singapore’s aviation sector and help redefine the air travel experience for passengers.
Situated at the Innovation 4.0 Building at NUS Kent Ridge campus, the joint SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory is supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF).
“The launch of the corporate laboratory comes at an opportune time as the global aviation industry tackles the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the two companies in a joint statement. “An acceleration of its digital transformation programme will help to keep SIA vibrant and nimble, and contribute towards the development of a digital aviation and travel technology community in Singapore.”
SIA chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong said the combination NUS’ research expertise and the airline’s knowledge and experience in the aviation sector would “strengthen the airline’s position at the forefront of digital innovation in the airline industry.”
He added: “It will lead to even more innovative solutions that can enhance the customer experience and travel journey, optimise revenue generation, and increase operational efficiency. Our collaboration with NUS will also reinforce Singapore’s position as a global aviation hub, with world-class research and cutting-edge technologies at the heart of our future development.”
The objectives of the lab are to drive traveller-centric digital services, ensure security and safety in air travel, and enhance organisational effectiveness and workplace productivity for SIA and Singapore’s aviation sector.
The lab features state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, such as a cabin simulator and a cockpit simulator with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). It will embark on research activities in the following areas:
- Revenue management and dynamic pricing: Develop better techniques by using data-driven methods in demand-modelling, fare pricing and seat allocation to enhance operational efficiencies.
- Transforming competency and skill development: Develop intelligent and quantified pilot and cabin crew training methods, leverage eye tracking, AR and VR, as well as post-flight feedback technologies to encourage employees to embrace continuous learning through training.
- Employee wellness: Develop intelligent fatigue and alertness models using wearables to improve and enhance safety, performance, and productivity.
- Passenger comfort, sleep and cabin service: Develop real environment cabin simulators to enhance customers’ comfort, sleep qualities, as well as developing specifications of new product and service protocols for enhanced and unparalleled customer service.
Over the next five years the lab expects to train more than 70 researchers and PhD students “who will play a critical role in fostering a resilient and long-term research and development, and engineering talent pipeline for Singapore’s aviation industry.”
Sabre adds travel restriction tracking capability to SafePoint
Sabre has expanded its risk management product, SafePoint, with the addition of a global travel restriction tracking tool.
SafePoint monitors global events in near real-time 24/7 to provide alerts related to travellers’ itineraries. It utilises hundreds of data sources for events and restrictions that may impact travel arrangements and/or traveller safety.
With the enhancement the product now provides information regarding the spread of Covid-19 and its variants including entry restrictions or requirements related to masks, vaccinations, health documents and quarantine.
Sabre said SafePoint helps travel agencies and corporate customers make more informed decisions and enhance the safety of travellers by alerting them to restrictions, which may impact their itinerary. Travellers then can use the information to take action at any stage of their trip.
“As travel rebounds we believe a duty-of-care and crisis alerting solution is imperative to any travel business, especially in a world where travel advisories can change rapidly,” said Saunvit Pandya, senior director of product management at Sabre.
“SafePoint is designed to keep travellers and corporate travel managers apprised of critical events in a fast-moving world.”
Greater Bay Airlines selects Amadeus as distribution partner,
Newly established Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) has entered into a distribution pact with Amadeus in its bid to expand across Asia Pacific.
Through the agreement the carrier, which obtained its Air Operator’s Certificate last October, will make its schedules and fares available to travel agencies globally worldwide via the Amadeus Travel Platform in Q1 2022 – the expected quarter to commence flights.
This enables Amadeus-connected travel to search, book and service reservations on GBA.
Through the Amadeus Travel Platform the sellers (travel management companies, corporations, tour operators, retail travel agencies, online travel agencies, metasearch) will gain access to the airline’s flight schedules, load changes, seat maps, ancillary services and fare families as well as real-time flight updates.
“These options will empower travel sellers to tailor offerings to their customers’ specific requirements, generating more value for both customer and airline,” said Amadeus.
GBA has applied for the rights to operate in 104 destinations across the region including mainland China and North & South-east Asia. The carrier has already leased three Boeing 737-800 aircraft and plans to grow its fleet to 30 aircraft over the next five years.
• Featured image credit: Singapore Airlines & National University of Singapore
