ANA goes with Amadeus' Altea

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has signed a contract with Amadeus to introduce the company’s international flight reservation, inventory and departure control systems across the airline’s global network implementing the Amadeus Altéa Suite.

The airline’s migration to Altéa will mark a major step in the group’s initiative to modernise and consolidate its passenger service system as the airline replaces its existing legacy system, which has served it for the past 20 years.

This transition also forms part of ANA’s strategy to globalise its airline operations, further improving passenger services and reducing overall IT costs.

The new system will automate ANA’s entire customer management process; streamlining the passenger travel experience from beginning to end whilst also simplifying check-in. The airline will also be able to book passengers on alternative flights or re-book those passengers affected by disruption with the simple click of a button.

The other advantages are:

• Enhanced customer service: ANA will be able to immediately recognise a passenger’s travel history, determining not just their seat preference, but also their overall relationship with the airline. For example, if they are a frequent-flyer the airline can upgrade them or offer particular and targeted benefits

• Simplified and seamless work processes: ANA will benefit from the solution’s intuitive GUI (Graphic User Interface) which simplifies complex and time intensive procedures such as airport check-in or the re-issuing of tickets

• Open platform technology: The Amadeus solution is based on a global, open technology platform, which is flexible and easy to update both now and in the future

Implementation will begin this June with the aim of migrating from ANA’s existing legacy system to Amadeus by 2015.

By outsourcing its passenger reservation system to Amadeus, ANA aims to reduce annual IT costs by ¥1 billion.

Keisuke Okada, ANA’s executive vice president, said the Amadeus system would also help ANA expand its global marketing and improve productivity.

Julia Sattel, vice president, airline IT, Amadeus IT Group, said Asia Pacific is a key strategic focus as Amadeus expands its presence in the region. “Our objective is to provide advanced technology solutions to airlines around the world, to help them evolve in line with the changing needs of the industry so that they can continue to exceed the demands of their passengers. With this in mind, we are thrilled to welcome ANA as the first Japanese airline to choose Altéa.”

ANA is the 112th airline worldwide to select Amadeus’ Altéa Customer Management Solution.