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How IT Systems Benefits to Airlines Business Introduction Flying Business has been developed for near a hundred years, starting from the beginning of the 20th Century, until nowadays, Flying technology develops rapidly. In Hong Kong, we have a great International Airport servicing 24 hours all year, which handles over 48. 6 millions passengers, over 3. 6 millions tones air cargoes (from 2008 figure), and coordinates with over 80 airlines operate flights to around 150 destinations worldwide.
This report starts with a brief history on the Flying Business, Hong Kong International Airport, and a brief introduction of different kinds of IT System used in the operation within an Airline Business. There are many different kinds of technology involved in an Airline Business, which includes: Ticket Reservation System, Check-in & Baggage Handling system, Crew management, etc. The relationship between Airlines, Airport and Hong Kong Custom which co-ordinate on their IT System is to be explained in this report.
It focuses on the Ticket Reservation System and Baggage Handling system. The process of handling a luggage from one destination to another, how it benefits to the Airlines and Airport operations by using IT system. IT System makes an significant role in Airlines and Airport that improves the quality of services. The development of Baggage bar-code tracing system not only can save manpower, time and cost but also reduce criminal act. TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION2 TABLE OF CONTENT3 INTRODUCTION TO AIRLINE BUSINESS4
AIRLINE BUSINESS HISTORY4 AVIATION HISTORY OF HONG KONG7 HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT8 SYSTEM INVOLVED IN AIRLINE BUSINESS:9 1. AIRLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM9 Some Advantages of Booking Air Ticket Online12 2. INVENTORY MANAGEMENT14 3. CHECK-IN15 4. BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEM15 Baggage Handling – Bag Tags17 Baggage Handling using Bar Code System18 The Use of RFID Technology21 Advantages of using RFID Technology23 SITA World Tracer Services25 4. CREW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM28 HOW IT SYSTEMS BENEFITS TO AIRLINES BUSINESS30
Introduction to Airline Business Airline Business History The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilber, two Americans who generally credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on 17 December 1903. The Wright Company transported the first known commercial air cargo on 7 November 1910, by flying two bolts of dress silk 65miles from Dayton to Columbus. Most airlines at the time in early 1920s were focused on carrying bags of mail.
In 1925, the Ford Motor Company bought out the Stout Aircraft Company and began construction of the all-metal Ford Trimotor, which became the first successful American airliner. With a 12-passenger capacity, the Trimoter made passenger service potentially profitable. Air service was seen as supplement to rail service in the American transportation network. With the introduction of the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-3 in the 1930s. This trend continued until the beginning of World War II. In October 1945, the American Export Airlines became the first airline to offer regular commercial flights between North America and Europe.
World War II, like World War I, brought new life to the airline industry. Many airlines in the Allied countries were flush from lease contracts to the military, and foresaw a future explosive demand for civil air transport, for both passengers and cargo. They were eager to invest in the newly emerging flagships of air travel. Most of the new aircraft were based on American bombers such as the B-29, which had spearheaded research in to new technologies such as pressurization. Most offered increased efficiency from both added speed and greater payload.
The Next big boost for the airlines would come in the 1970s, when the Boeing747, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, and Lockheed L-1011 inaugurated widebody (jumbo jet) service, which is still the standard in international travel. In 1972, Airbus began producing Europe’s most commercially successful line of airliners to date. The added efficiencies for these aircraft were often not in speed, but in passenger capacity, payload, and range. 1978’s U. S. airline industry deregulation lowered barriers for new airlines just as a downturn occurred.
As the business cycle returned to normalcy, major airlines dominated their routes through aggressive pricing and additional capacity offerings, often swamping new startups. In many ways, the biggest winner in the deregulated environment was the air passenger. Indeed, the U. S. witnessed an explosive growth in demand for air travel, as many millions who had never or rarely flown before became regular fliers, even joining frequent flyer loyalty programs and receiving free flights a nd other benefits from their flying.
New services and higher frequencies meant that business fliers could fly to another city, do business, and return the same day, for almost any point in the country. Air travel’s advantages put intercity bus lines under pressure, and most have withered away. By the 1980s, almost half of the total flying in the world took place in the U. S. , and today the domestic industry operates over 10,000 daily departures nationwide. Toward the end of the century, a new style of low cost airline emerged, offering a nofrills product at a lower price.
Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, AirTran Airways, Skybus Airlines and other low-cost carriers began to represent a serious challenge to the so-called “legacy airlines”. Aviation History of Hong Kong Seven years after the first flight of a heavier-than-air controlled aeroplane in 1903, planes were already flying in Hong Kong. The first privately owned airport in Hong Kong was located in Shatin. On 18 March 1911, the aeroplane of the Belgian pilot, Charles den Bron (1974-1958), successfully took off at the airport in Shatin. This marked an important moment in the aviation history of Hong Kong.
The aeroplane was named as the Spirit of Shatin (????? ). There is a replica of the aeroplane in the Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. The year 1924 was a critical point of aviation history of Hong Kong, when the story of Kai Tak began. The location of Kai Tak belonged to two billionaires Ho Kai and Au Tak, who owned the land before the government acquired the land, which explains the name of the airport. First planned as an estate site, the land was given to the government after the plan failed. It soon became a small airport for the Royal Air Force, flying clubs and pilot training centre.
In 1962 the passenger terminal was completed, and Kai Tak became an international airport, renamed Hong Kong International Airport. But it remains popularly known as Kai Tak Airport. The old airport at Kai Tak finally retired at midnight 5 July 1998, and the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, 30 km to the west of Kai Tak, began in service in the morning of the following day. Many aviation enthusiasts were upset with the demise of Kai Tak because of the unique approach. As private aviation is not allowed at Chek Lap Kok, some enthusiasts had lobbied to keep around 1km of the Kai Tak runway for private aviation.
Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport, because it was built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distingguish it from its predeceesor, the closed Kai Tak Airport. The airport opened for commercial operations in 1998, replacing Kai Tak, and is an important regional trans-shipment centre, passenger hub and gateway for destinations in Mainland China and the rest of Asia. Despite a relatively short history, Hong Kong International Airport has won seven Skytrax World Airport Awards in just ten years.
HKIA also operates one of the world’s largest passenger terminal buildings and operates twenty-four hours a day. In 2008, Hong Kong International Airport was the second busiest airport in the world in terms of cargo traffic, handling 3,656,724 tons of cargo. It was also the 12th busiest airport worldwide in terms of passenger throughput, registering 47,898,000. HKIA is the primary hub for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Hong Kong Express Airways, Hong Kong Airlines, Air Hong Kong (cargo airline) and Asia Jet (private airline). System Involved in Airline Business: . Airline Reservation System In the early days of commercial aviation, passengers were relatively few, and each airline’s routes and fares were tightly regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Board in US. These were published in a volume entitled The Official Airline Guide, from which travel agents or consumers could construct an itinerary, then call or telex airline staff, who would mark the reservation on a card and file it. As demand for air travel increased and schedules grew more complex, this process became impractical.
Airline reservation systems were first introduced in the late 1950s as relatively simple standalone systems to control flight inventory, maintain flight schedules, seat assignments and aircraft loading. The modern airline reservation system is comprehensive suite of products to provide a system that assists with a variety of airline management tasks and service customer needs from the time of initial reservation through completion of the flight. Online airline ticket booking system is one of the essential applications of Airline Business.
With the development of Internet and security technology, more and more people begin to consume online, which is more convenient and personal than traditional way. The goal of this system is to make people purchase airline tickets easily. Reservations systems is a sophisticated suite of products and is able to offer customer services such as e-tickets, hotel room reservations, rental car reservations, frequent flyer program mileage, and provision for special meal requests. Airlines use Reservations System to fully manage there inventory and yield/revenue to maximize their profits.
The systems also provide airlines management assistance by addressing financial, administrative, back office issues, scheduling, airline load data, decision support for control of overbooking, discount seat allocations, and yield management that can be used to adjust the number of special fare seats based on the number of reservations. Reservations systems must be reliable with a very low failure rate. Hardware and software redundancy for immediate backup in the event of a failure is an absolute necessity.
Airline ticket agents can access the reservation systems to make flight arrangements, view current reservations, and check passenger lists, as well as many other functions. Airline agents as well as travel agents can issue both paper tickets and e-tickets for a booking made on the system which conform to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) standard. E-tickets are also issued online via the internet booking engine for any booking made by the public. An Airline Reservation System is part of the so-called Passenger Service Systems, which are applications supporting the direct contact with the passenger.
The Airline Reservations System (ARS) was one of the earliest changes to improve efficiency. ARS eventually evolved into the Computer Reservations System (CRS). A Computer Reservation System is used for the reservations of a particular airline and interfaces with a Global Distribution System (GDS) which supports travel agencies and other distribution channels in making reservations for most major airlines in a single system. A Computer Reservations System (CRS) is a computerized system used to store and retrieve information and conduct transactions related to air travel.
Originally designed and operated by airlines, CRS were later extended for the use of travel agents; major CRS operations that book and sell tickets for multiple airlines are known as Global Distribution Systems (GDS). Airlines have divested most of their direct holdings to dedicated GDS companies, who make their systems accessible to consumers through Internet gateways. Modern GDS typically allow users to book hotel rooms and rental cars as well as airline tickets. Airline Reservations Systems contain airline schedules, fare tariffs, passenger reservations and ticket records.
An airline’s direct distribution works within their own reservation system, as well as pushing out information to the GDS. A second type of direct distribution channel are consumers who use the internet or mobile applications to make their own reservations. Travel agencies and other indirect distribution channels access the same GDS as those accessed by the airlines’ reservation systems, and all messaging is transmitted by a standardized messaging system that functions primarily on TTY messaging called SITA.
Since airline reservation systems are business critical applications, and their functionally quite complex, the operation of an in-house airline reservation system is relatively expensive. Prior to deregulation, airlines owned their own reservation systems with travel agents subscribing to them. Today, the GDS are run by independent companies with airlines and travel agencies as major subscribers. As of February 2009, there are only three major GDS providers in the market space: Amadeus, Travelport (the merged Worldspan and Galileo systems), and Sabre.
There is a secondary GDS called Navitaire that hosts “ticketless” airlines such as AirTran, JetBlue, and Virgin America. In additional to these “standardized” GDS, some airlines have proprietary versions which they use to run their flight operations. A few examples of this kind of system are Deltamatic (built off the Worldspan platform) and SHARES. Some Advantages of Booking Air Ticket Online “According to sources in the aviation and travel industry, the count of city passengers using e-tickets and other online facilities has gone up by almost 90 per cent this year.
The simplicity of the procedure has made the system popular,” said airline officials. “Just log on to the airline’s website and make a booking. Then you pay and take a printout of the itinerary receipt and start packing your bags,” explained an official of Indian Airline. The alternatives are booking through travel agents or at the airline’s counter. “The facility of e-ticketing is available in all the metro cities. The service will soon be extended to other cities on the airline’s network,” the official added.
Jet Airways has also recorded an increase in the sale of online tickets. Airline officials claimed that 90 per cent of the passengers are opting for computer-generated tickets. “There is no chance of e-tickets getting lost, as PNR is stored on the airline’s database. Earlier, many people used to lose tickets while travelling. E-tickets have taken care of that,” said Sudhakar Rao, general manager, eastern region of Jet Airways. Singapore Airlines set up its e-ticket base in the city in November and within two months, 90 per cent of the passengers are using the facility. It is very easy to re-route. The passenger just has to inform us about his changed itinerary and it is done online,” explained a Singapore Airlines official. “The ease of issuing tickets, checking in, changing travel plans, simpler exchange and refund processing are a few advantages. E-tickets also offer an opportunity to realize savings on fare, distribution and revenue billing,” said an Indian official. Indian is planning to launch a state-of-the-art Passenger Services System. The new system will provide a fillip to customer servicing.
For example, the history of passenger’s recent trips, his feedback, experience regarding baggage and reservations will be on record. “The Passenger Services System will be set up by the likes of Amadeus, Sabre, EDS and Lufthansa Systems. The evaluation process is underway,” claimed an official of the airline. Booking plane tickets has never been so easy before. Travelers today do not hesitate to go far off places and visit popular destinations around the world. They are no more scared of the high international airfare. Thanks to the World Wide Web that has made life simpler.
If you are one of those who still think that traveling to far off destinations and booking airline tickets is a herculean task, you have to come out of the hibernation and find out how easy it is to get good flight deals. Many online travel sites have come up that feature plane tickets to multiple airlines offer great discounts. The biggest advantage of booking online cheap air tickets with such companies is that they are powered with advanced technology that will give an opportunity to have a look at all the airlines to a destination and also to compare prices and book plane tickets in your favorite airlines.
If you do not want to spend a fortune on one international visit you have to compare the international airfare of different airlines in a trusted travel site. It is not wise to take hasty decisions and book your online flights tickets. The best way to enjoy your trip is to cut short your expenditure on travel. You have to make sure that you get best international airfare before booking online airline tickets. If you spend less on flight deals, you can save your money which you can spend to make the most of your trip.
If you browse the net, you will find many reviews, travel tips and other useful travel related information. Moreover, you will also know about the place you want to visit. You can board a hotel of your choice and that fits in your budget. You can also visit other places of interest. In this way you will not be roaming around in the place where you visit and will be equipped with all the information before hand. This will not only enhance your enjoyment but also make your trip safe and secure.
Booking online airline tickets is very easy as the sites that provide this facility make sure that all functions in the site are user friendly and easy to use. You no more have to pay huge amount of money as commission to the local travel agents. All that you have to do is to just spend some time in the internet and find the travel sites that offer discount flight deals You can travel to any part of the globe hassle free. You can follow some important tips like booking plane tickets in advance and choose to travel in off seasons to avail cheap flight deals.
You will be able to find tips like these and many more while you online airline tickets. 2. Inventory management An airline’s inventory contains all flights with their available seats. The inventory of an airline is generally divided into service classes and up to 26 booking classes, for which different prices and booking conditions apply. Inventory data is imported and maintained through a Schedule Distribution System over standardized interfaces. One of the core functions of the inventory management is the inventory control.
Inventory control steers how many seats are available in the different booking classes, by opening and closing individual booking classes for sale. In combination with the fares and booking conditions stored in the Fare Quote System the price for each sold seat is determined. In most cases inventory control has a real time interface to an airline’s yield management system to support a permanent optimization of the offered booking classes in response to changes in demand or pricing strategies of a competitor. 3. Check-in According to the report of “Computing of UK”.
Electronic barcodes are to replace magnetic strip boarding passes by 2010. By 2010 UK airline passengers could be checking in and boarding flights using an electronic barcode transmitted to their mobile phone, industry experts predict. Airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are considering mobile technology as an alternative to traditional magnetic strip-based boarding passes. International Air Transport Association (IATA) spokesman Eric Leopold says barcode boarding passes, both printed and on mobile phones, will replace magnetic strip-based boarding passes.
We believe some UK airlines will have mobile phone check-in capability by 2008, and magnetic strip boarding passes will be replaced by 2010, he said. The technology is already in place at some international airports. At Tokyo and Beijing, passengers register their fingerprint for security purposes and a barcode acting as the boarding pass is sent directly to their phone. This makes things a little quicker, and easier for a lot of us. 4. Baggage Handling System A baggage-handling system has three main jobs: •Move bags from the check-in area to the departure gate •Move bags from one gate to another during transfers Move bags from the arrival gate to the baggage-claim area The baggage handling system at an airport plays a crucial role in keeping travelers happy. It also can make the difference in an airport’s ability to attract or keep a major airline hub (“an airport that serves as a central connecting point through which many flights of a particular airline are routed” — Webster’s New World Dictionary). In Hong Kong International Airport, ramp handling services are provided by Hong Kong Airport Services Limited (HAS), Jardine Air Terminal Services Limited, and Menzies Aviation Group.
Their services include the handling of mail and passenger baggage, transportation of cargo, aerobridge operations and the operation of passenger stairways,. The airport has an advance baggage handling system (BHS), the main section of which is located in the basement level of the passenger terminal, and a separate remote transfer facility at the western end of the main concourse for handling of tight connection transfer bags. Baggage handling system (BHS) is a type of conveyor system installed in airports that transports checked luggage from ticket counters to areas where the bags can be loaded onto airplanes.
A BHS also transports checked baggage coming off of airplanes to baggage claims or to an area where the bag can be loaded on to another airplane. Although a BHS’s primary function is the transportation of bags, a typical BHS will serve many other complex functions involved in making sure that a bag gets to the correct location in the airport. The process of identifying a bag, and the information associated with it, to make a decision on where the bag should be directed within the system is known as sortation. In addition to sortation, a BHS typically also performs the following functions: Detection of Bag Jams •Volume Regulation (to ensure that input points are controlled to avoid overloading system) •Load Balancing (to evenly distribute bag volume between conveyor sub-systems) •Bag Counting •Bag Tracking •Redirection of Bags via Pusher or Diverter •Merging of Conveyor Lines Baggage Handling – Bag Tags The first separable coupon ticket was patented by John Michael Lyons of Moncton, New Brunswick on 5 June 1882. The ticket showed the issuing station, the destination and a consecutive number for reference.
The lower half of the ticket was given to the passenger, while the upper half, with a hole at the top, was inserted into a brass sleeve and then attached to the baggage by a strap. Example of IATA airport code printed on a baggage tag, showing DCA Bag tags, also known as baggage tags, baggage checks or luggage tickets, have traditionally been used by bus, train and airline companies to route passenger luggage that is checked on to the final destination. The passenger stub is typically handed to the passenger or attached to the ticket envelope: a. to aid the passenger in identifying their bag among similar bags at the destination baggage carousel; b. ) as proof – still requested at a few airports – that the passenger is not removing someone else’s bag from the baggage reclaim hall; c. ) as a means for the passenger and carrier to identify and trace a specific bag that has gone astray and was not delivered at the destination. Baggage Handling using Bar Code System A barcode system is a network of hardware and software, consisting primarily of mobile computers, printers, handheld scanners, infrastructure, and supporting software.
Barcode systems are used to automate data collection where hand recoding is neither timely or cost effective. Barcoding systems are not radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems even though the companies that provide barcode equipment will often also provide RFID equipment and many companies use both technologies as part of larger resource management systems. A typical barcode system consist of some infrastructure, either wired or wireless that connects some number of mobile computers, handheld scanners, and printers to one or many databases that store and analyze the data collected by the system.
At some level there must be some software to manage the system. The software may be as simple as code that manages the connection between the hardware and the database or as complex as an ERP, MRP, or some other inventory management software. When you check-in, the agent pulls up your itinerary on the computer and prints out one or more tags to attach to each of your pieces of luggage. The tag has all of your flight information on it, including your destination and any stopover cities, as well as bar code that contains a ten-digit number.
The number is unique to your luggage, All of the computers in the baggage-handling system can use this number to look up your itinerary. Your bag’s first stop (after check-in) is at an automated bar-code scanner. This station is actually an array of bar-code scanners arranged 360 degrees around the conveyor, including underneath. This device is able to scan the bar codes on about 90 percent of the bags that pass by. The rest of the bags are routed to another conveyor to be manually scanned. Current bag tags include a bar code.
These bag tags are printed using barcode printers that print on an adhesive paper stock. This printed strip is then attached to the luggage at check in. This allows for automated sorting of the bags to reduce the number of misrouted, misplaced or delayed bags. Nevertheless, automated sorting of baggage using laser scanner arrays, known as automatic tag readers, to read bar-coded bag tags is standard at major airports. Cleaning cards are available to clean the barcode printers and maintain the integrity of the barcode.
As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and customer service, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) today announced that all of its check-in counters can now print integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) baggage tags. The new tags, which combine an embedded RFID chip with a barcode, are replacing barcode-only baggage tags on an airline-by-airline basis. The new tags offer many benefits. Unlike barcode-only tags, which require the scanner to be in close proximity to the tag, RFID tags can be read from a distance and at an angle.
RFID tags can be read more quickly, contain more data and are more reliable, with read-rates of 97% versus an average of 80% for the barcode-only tags. Baggage Management develop the air transport industry’s most advanced integrated baggage management solution. This solution uses barcode- and state-of-the-art RFID tagging. The Use of RFID Technology Radio frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic identification technology that stores and remotely retrieves data from electronic tags using radio waves.
RFID chips can store substantially more data than barcodes and can be read from a distance. RFID technology is widely used by manufacturers, retailers, logistics companies and governments to manage, secure and track items. In Hong Kong, the Octopus stored value card and the Autotoll electronic toll collection system are examples of RFID technology. Benefits of Introducing RFID Technology for Baggage Handling System: •Improve bag tag read rate •Improve BHS operational efficiency and capacity About 50 airlines are currently using the integrated RFID baggage tags.
These airlines include Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Air China, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways, Thai Airways, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines, etc RFID technology provides dramatic improvements in traceability thanks to its superior read rates compared to barcodes and to its ability to write information to the RFID chips while the goods are being handled. Advances in RFID technology itself are also helping to pave the way for adoption.
Declining chip and reader prices, along with the growing ability to simply and inexpensively connect devices and distribute information, are making RFID implementation economically feasible for companies of all sizes. These advances, in conjunction with emerging EPC standards, are the key drivers in making RFID the UPC of the 21st century. Advantages of using RFID Technology •Has a long lifetime •Minimum maintenance •Provides fast and reliable data recording •Can work in harsh environments (heat, cold, rain) •Tags are difficult to duplicate, so it is secure •Does not require Line-of-Sight
Baggage Management uses highly redundant IP-based global links to direct, track and trace passenger baggage throughout the journey – from check-in to final destination. This saves valuable time and money. Barcode Baggage Tag is one of the major elements in airport handling systems; it plays a major role through every step of the process, from the check-in operations to the loading of luggages into the aircraft: check-in, security screening, sortation, reconciliation and loading. While barcode is used extensively for baggage handling, bar codes can not be automatically scanned without direct sight and undamaged print.
Forced by reading problems with poorly-printed, obscured, crumpled, scored or otherwise damaged bar codes, in 2004 IATA launched a project to test and build a business case for the use of RFID for baggage management. This is one of the five IATA Simplifying The Business projects aimed at simplifying travel and reducing airline costs. Some airlines have started using radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips embedded in the tags. In the US, McCarran International Airport has installed an RFID system throughout the airport. Hong Kong International Airport has also installed an RFID system.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is trying to standardize RFID bag tags. There is a somewhat higher probability of reading RFID tags automatically. Drivers of using RFID from a business perspective are: 1. Lower Cost: According to the National Retail Security Survey put out by the University of Florida, approximately $5. 8 billion worth of inventory was lost in 2001 due to administrative errors alone. As evidenced by the fact that labor comprises approximately 30 percent of supply chain expenditures, one of the easiest ways to drive down costs is to increase operational and labor efficiencies.
RFID not only ensures accuracy of information, but it also limits the amount of real-time, RFID can further reduce costs by allowing companies to decrease shrink. 2. Increase Revenue: With U. S. retailers losing approximately 3. 8 percent of sales per year as a result of out-of-stock inventory, RFID tags allow companies to capture and track a variety of data on goods. This information aids in the development of accurate inventory forecasts. 3. Decrease Stock Levels: Because of the speed and accuracy of RFID, orders can be filled in a shorter amount of time, allowing for quicker product availability.
Reducing this order cycle time decreases the need for an over abundance of stock. 4. Reduce Fixed Capital: With RFID, companies can better manage fixed capital by tracking assets such as totes, pallets, etc. This reduces the need for replacement due to lost items and cuts back on the amount of redundant equipment. SITA World Tracer Services WorldTracer Services suite of industry applications is a comprehensive airline information management system for mishandled property that sets the standard for baggage services worldwide.
By incorporating multi-system functionality into a single product, WorldTracer is flexible, fully integrated, and easy to use. Co-sponsored by SITA and IATA, WorldTracer was introduced to assist in the rapid recovery of misrouted passenger baggage, allowing information exchange within a given airline as well as between airlines worldwide. Today WorldTracer consists of distinct service modules for tracing and management of baggage along with extensive reporting capabilities. These modules allow for full customization of baggage handling requirements.
WorldTracer Tracing is a highly effective yet easy to use baggage tracing system providing continuous tracing for up to 100 days. It incorporates IATA rules and recommendations concerning baggage tracing. WorldTracer Tracing maintains a large worldwide database of on-hand and forwarded baggage information and has a sophisticated matching mechanism based on external and internal baggage characteristics The WorldTracer Management module features extensive tools to manage and rectify the consequences of mishandled baggage. Through a seamless interface with WorldTracer Tracing and other industry baggage tracing ystems, the airline is able to create, retrieve and amend all types of baggage records, as well as exchange messages with other industry tracing systems and communicate with other departments, stations and airlines. The Management module also offers a subscriber the ability to maintain a log and find unchecked articles left in an airline facility, such as a book left in an airplane seatback pocket or an umbrella left in the gate area. The Found Property Register allows airlines to log and retrieve items found onboard an aircraft or in the airport.
Items are retained in this log from 30 to 90 days. Another of WorldTracer ‘s primary features is its powerful and flexible reporting capability. The Management module provides a number of reports with a variety of options that cover various aspects of baggage performance. WorldTracer Management is the industry standard baggage management and filing system, providing airlines with a single source for controlling all functions associated with baggage handling. SITA developed an Internet interface to its popular WorldTracer Baggage System.
When baggage is mishandled, the need for timely information becomes a priority. Up until now, this meant that airline personnel were needed to handle phone calls or required personal visits from the traveler to check the status of a baggage search. Internet access to WorldTracer files provides the airline passenger with another option in obtaining the most current information regarding their mishandled baggage. It gives the passenger the power to track the progress of their own mishandling report from home, office, or hotel room via the Internet 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
WorldTracer Internet service can be used via an airline web page or via the WorldTracer web page. This access page will require that the passenger enter his WorldTracer File Reference number and Last Name. This entry will produce information regarding the status of his luggage and provides a means to confirm file data. This access provides a new level of customer support and demonstrates WorldTracer ‘s commitment to providing service that can be accessed globally in a single format regardless of an airline host system.
IVR – Interactive Voice Response service is an option available to the Internet Service and is provided by Aumtech, a SITA partner 4. Crew Management System Airline crew management is concerned with end-to-end management of the crew, with an objective of finding a minimum cost assignment of flight crews to a given flight schedule while satisfying restrictions. A key consideration is to ensure high employee morale and thereby increased customer satisfaction. From an airline crew management perspective, every airline is different.
The schedule, government regulations, contractual obligations and company values as well as historic management practice and the current state of labor relations make each airline unique. When these differences are recognized and valued and then integrated with the right systems, crew utilization and crew satisfaction improve. •Enhance decision support capability and improve the speed and accuracy of its crew tracking. •Increased efficiency and better decision support •Cutting down on manual data input and reducing intervention due to automated data capture and manipulation •More comprehensive rule-checking ability Make more timely decisions through the graphical user interface presentation of information and decision support functionality •Promote better communication of necessary information both within crew control and with other departments •Provision of real-time management reporting •Enhanced filtering and sorting tools. •Complete automation of its crew allowance payment •Advanced crew training management functionality •Reductions in crew cost, resulting from better standby management and fewer crew-related delays •Should reap instant rewards and the new software can also help keep additional outlays down
The Crew Management System is a rule based roster building and tracking system which gives control over the content and style of the crew’s work schedules. In addition, the use of our own screen, report and menu generators enables us to interface exactly to the user’s needs. The crew is the most important factor in ship management and the quality of the people working onboard a vessel is the key to success. Crew Management system includes such services as: •Initial interview, vetting and selection of crew •Medical examination & appraisal reports •Issuance of working gear Payment of crew allotments & salaries •Joining and repatriation •Visa applications •Crew training •Crew welfare •Monitoring of appraisal reports How IT Systems Benefits to Airlines Business To conclude, IT used to benefits to Airline Business in both tangible and in tangible ways. In general, Airlines/ Airport Operation Cost would be reducing due to the efficiency and accuracy. Airlines using IT system in Online Direct Internet Access Booking, public booking with the airline through the internet booking engine. To provide customers with a feature-rich, user-friendly online experience.
A user friendly interface resulted in measurable increases in customer satisfaction. An enhanced online booking process would also improve competitiveness. A surge in online booking revenues resulted as customers began using the new system. With the growth in online bookings, enquiries to the eService center decreased by 13% (as of Oct 2004), resulting in significant cost saving to the airline. This increase passengers using e-tickets and online facilities, the lose rate of Air-ticket reduce, passengers can save their ticket online, also it is very environmental friendly.
Passengers may direct input the preference in to the system, like what kind of catering services they need, online check-in can also record their seating preference, this help airlines to collect passengers’ data to improved the Customer Relation Management too. The use of RFID Baggage Handling System, it help on Baggage Tracking: •Comprehensive baggage reconciliation, baggage tracking and baggage management •Fast baggage tracing and baggage repatriating •Reduced departure delays due to offloading baggage and reduce lost bag claim •Flexible integration with local and remote airline and airport systems •Increased security Increased customer service •Decrease in theft because of complete trace ability and accountability of baggage •Handling by location •Internet based web access to all data, reporting, and analysis functions •Secure data transfer •Secure user login access •Secure wireless local area network (LAN) and infrastructure provision •Industry-standard IATA clearing house billing In the terms of the Intangible Benefits in result of using IT system on Airline Business, Airline Companies Image built up, the customers confident on Airline increased.