LEADING travel technology partner Amadeus recently facilitated the migration of Saudi Arabian Airlines onto its next-generation Altéa Customer Management System (CMS) and the airline has already registered a significant increase in bookings with online sales now representing more than 20 per cent of total bookings.
The introduction of next-generation technology systems is part of a modernisation programme aimed at both improving the passenger experience and enhancing operational efficiency. The Altéa CMS replaces the Saudi Arabian Airlines’ legacy IT platform which has served the carrier for the last 20 years.
The migration marks a major milestone for Saudi Arabian Airlines. During cutover 3.2 million tickets, 1.3 million passenger name records (PNRs) and 1.3 million frequent flyer profiles were moved to the new system. The Amadeus reservation desktop application was installed on more than 3,000 PCs at 500-plus office locations worldwide and upwards of 3,800 employees were trained on the new applications and processes. In addition, a large-scale integration programme was undertaken to link the airline’s new systems to its other applications as well as to more than 70 airline partners for e-ticketing.
The Altéa central repository of data enables airline staff to access a common and validated client profile, with a single view of flight history and individual client preferences.
Saudi Arabian Airlines will also benefit from Altéa’s community approach allowing airlines to access continuous technology development plus moving from a fixed to a variable cost model. More than 140 airlines rely on at least one component of the Altea CMS.
This seamless migration follows Amadeus’ sustained leadership across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) in 2009. As one of the fastest growing distribution systems providers in the region, Amadeus grew its market share to an estimated 43 per cent in 2009, consolidating its leadership in the region.
Furthermore, Amadeus expanded its reach, market share and headcount by opening offices in Syria, Yemen and Lebanon, making it the only GDS provider to have its direct operation across all markets in the Middle East. In 2009 Amadeus also opened its Mena regional hub in Dubai.
Antoine Medawar, vice president, Mena, Amadeus, said: “Despite a tough year, Amadeus’ achievements have been outstanding in the Middle East. This has been made possible by the consistent support and commitment from our travel partners and employees. In 2010 we continue to support and provide next-generation technology innovation, global reach and local expertise that will form the foundation of sustained growth for both our travel industry partners and Amadeus in this strategic region.”