A MAgAzine for Airline executives 2010 issue no. 1 2010 i ssue n o. 1 t aking your airline to new heights www.sabreairlinesolutions.com World’s Happiest Airline A Conversation With … Enrique Beltranena, Volaris Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Page 10. Join us on Facebook at sabreairlinesolutions.com/fb 6 Afriqiyah Airways knows when and 32 Significant improvements to air traffic 80 Effectively diagnosing MRO issues and Follow us on twitter at twitter.com/SabreAS where to expand control systems prescribing solutions making contact t aking your airline to new heights 2010 issue no. 1 To suggest a topic for a possible For more information about products editor in chief future article, change your and services featured in this issue of Stephani Hawkins address or add someone to the Ascend, please visit our Website at mailing list, please send an www.sabreairlinesolutions.com Art Direction/Design Charles Urich e-mail message to the Ascend or contact one of the following staff at [email protected]. Sabre Airline Solutions regional Managing editor representatives: B. Scott Hunt Associate editor Carla Jensen Design Manager Yvette Hunt contributors Asia/Pacific north America Chris Bird, Patt Bourland, Stephanie Bundick, David Chambers Mike Douglass Dominic Clarke, Greg Gilchrist, Brett Jacobson, Vice President Vice President Gordon Locke, Horacio Mena, Anne-Marie Phone: +65 6215 9518 Phone: +1 682 605 5349 Monahan, Mark Neill, Brent O’Brien, Kamal E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Qatato, Gary Stone, Ben Vinod, Chris Wilding. europe Publisher Alessandro Ciancimino Sabre Airline Solutions, the Sabre George Lynch Vice President E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +39 348 3708240 Airline Solutions logo and products www.sabreairlinesolutions.com E-mail: [email protected] noted in italics in this publication are trademarks and/or service marks of an latin America Awards affiliate of Sabre Holdings Corp. 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Visit www.sabretravelnetwork.com/sabreaircommerce today. 2005 Awards for Publication Excellence, International Association of Business Communicators Bronze Quill, Silver Cert no. SW-COC-002360 Quill and Gold Quill 2004 Awards for Publication Excellence, powering progress International Association of Business Communicators Bronze Quill and Silver Quill perspective model and adapt to the constantly evolv- ing industry. So while open systems are essential to our business, there’s much more that must be added to the equation for our technology, or that of any IT pro- vider, to thoroughly support the needs of our airline partners. In our Company section, Barry Vandevier, our chief information officer, discusses several aspects of our tech- nology strategy, including how we use cloud concepts to take SOA to the next level, our Software-as-a-Service offer- ing that supports 119 airlines across 23 open-system solutions and our move to an Agile development methodology. with Tom Klein These are just a few examples that support our commitment to develop President, Sabre Holdings flexible, adaptable solutions that meet your business needs today and grow with you for decades to come. find the speed at which technology in because it doesn’t offer the flexibility On our cover, Latin America-based evolves fascinating, yet it can be to expand with your airline’s changing Volaris explains what makes its Mexico’s I somewhat frustrating when you buy needs. So, for instance, five or 10 years premier low-cost carrier and how tech- the latest in, say, electronics, such as down the road when you want to make nology is one of its top three priorities, televisions, mobile phones and comput- significant changes to your business along with people and aircraft. ers, just to find that you have to make model, you’ll likely be forced to move Your airline runs only as smoothly and additional purchases to get the full to yet another technology platform to efficiently as the technology that sup- benefit of your upgrade. If you don’t support your needs. But why spend the ports it. And that technology must be make the right selection, you can find time and money if it’s not absolutely extremely flexible so as not to restrict that you’ve been boxed in by what was necessary? your business but rather enable your once considered the newest and great- As technology partners for the travel airline to grow without boundaries. est technology but has, in a short period industry, we continuously look at pres- I hope you enjoy this issue of Ascend, of time, become practically obsolete. ent as well as future needs of airlines. and I look forward to working with Technology clearly impacts every And while we produce solutions that are you to ensure your technology strategy aspect of our lives. Mobile phones that built on open systems, we don’t stop doesn’t box you in but rather sets you were once used only to make simple there. We build solutions that are flex- free to do business the way you want to phone calls now function as e-mail and ible and adaptable so they can be taken do business. Internet devices that allow access to apart and reconfigured to fit various everything a person needs to conduct airline requirements, setting you free to everyday business. Televisions that do business exactly the way you want decades ago relied on antennas to get to do business without restrictions or reception to a couple of local channels limitations. We don’t want our airline now use satellite to gain reception to partners to go down a path that works world news and entertainment. And today only to find that it’s outdated in airlines that once conducted most tasks five years and doesn’t support more manually are freed by technological modern technology. They should also advancements that enable them to have the freedom to adapt if business operate at top efficiency. needs change and they want to, say, No doubt technology is a necessity. change business models. We want to But implementing up-to-the-minute, implement solutions, and the platforms best-of-breed systems represents only to support them, that are the best today half of an airline’s technology strat- and remain the best five, 10, 15, 20 egy. And, while extremely vital, open years into the future. systems represent only a portion of Our airline services exchange platform what’s needed to support 100 percent — Sabre ® ASx SM Airline Services Exchange of an airline’s future needs. For several — gives airlines freedom to implement years, we’ve heard the hype about open new technology as it comes available systems being the “way to go” when … without constraints of rebuilding the implementing modern technology. Yes, current platform to conform to new it’s true that open systems should be systems. We’ve developed our solutions a key part of your strategy, but relying to integrate with other systems, support only on open systems will likely box you changes within an airline’s business ASCEND I TABLE OF CONTENTS 32 PROFILE INDUSTRY 6 16 32 Enjoying The Tailwind In Unison Highways In The Sky Afriqiyah Airways looks beyond Airlines achieve sizeable benefits Airlines can expect to see regional expansion to more by syncing up scheduling significant improvements to air lucrative international routes processes and using integrated traffic control systems in the near decision-support systems and long term 10 World’s Happiest Airline 20 38 Enrique Beltranena explains what The Glass Cockpit Gloves Off makes Volaris Mexico’s premier Electronic flight bag technology The struggle over Japan Airlines set low-cost carrier provides substantial benefits for the stage for a new order in global airlines and their crewmembers airline alliance negotiations 24 42 Play By The Rules Cargo Infusion New revenue management and Carriers that implement a sound pricing processes and IT systems cargo revenue management are needed to effectively strategy will achieve significant compete financial gains 27 46 Chatter Box Year Of The Tiger 10 Carriers