The new system, which will be available from 6pm on July 11 (Malaysia time/GMT +8), will allow the fast-growing airline to book up to almost one million flights a day.
Kathleen Tan (pictured), regional head of commercial, AirAsia told WIT that 2010 was the year of innovation for the group. “We are putting emphasis on upgrading technology and will be migrating from Open Skies to New Skies 3.2. The difference is like the difference between your old phone and the new iPad.
“It’s a totally different platform that will allow operations to deliver guest experience and commercial to do creative marketing, for example, special low fares for senior citizens if we wanted to.”
Powered by Navitaire, a subsidiary of industry-leading technology and business solutions provider Accenture, the new booking system was meticulously developed over three years, and more than 200 specially-trained personnel were tapped to implement the new system.
Tan said AirAsia and Navitaire had a “love-hate” relationship. “We have four airline codes, we wanted to charge in rupiah and their system couldn’t take it – too many digits, they said, but now they can.”
The migration to the new system will mean three days down time for the airline – from 1 pm on Friday, July 9 July 2010 (Malaysia time/GMT+8) to 6 pm on Sunday, July 11, 2010 (Malaysia time/GMT+8).
During that time, guests will not be able to book seats online, at AirAsia sales offices and counters, and through the call centre. Guests also will not be able to self check in – through the web, by mobile and at the kiosks – or self-manage their booking online.
Guests will be manually checked in by AirAsia staff at the airport check-in counters and are advised to check in at least three hours before departure to avoid missing their flights.
AirAsia will only be accepting cash for purchase of any ancillary product at the check-in counters, including excess baggage fees, during this period.
AirAsia has been investing heavily in technology to support its expansion across its markets, largely in Asia, Australia and Europe. The airline will fly its 100th million passenger by the fourth quarter of this year. However, its planned launch of services in Vietnam in August has been postponed, with Tan saying “it’s a different market”.
Tan said AirAsia’s investment in technology is enabling the airline to stay ahead of the pack “by smartly using advanced technology to enhance our products and services and to meet the needs of today’s tech-savvy air travelers.
“The new and improved system will spell for AirAsia’s guests countless benefits, including savings that will come as a result of the more efficient operational processes created by the new system,” she added.
With the new system, guests also will benefit from more innovative sales and marketing campaigns, product and service offerings tailored to guests’ preferences, and better self-service facilities, including direct access to their Credit Shell accounts.
Hotel bookings and reservations for tours and activities on airasiago.com will remain available throughout the AirAsia system upgrade.
Featured image credit (9M-AQU Airbus A320-200 of Airasia): Ockra/iStock
