IBS Software Acquires Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS) to Bolster Air Cargo Capabilities and Extend into Ocean Freight & Logistics
The acquisition will help expand IBS Software’s footprint in the global freight supply chain, accelerating digital transformation and innovation
IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, has announced the completion of a transaction to acquire Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS). AFLS provides technology platforms to help airline and ocean transportation companies manage their freight operations and grow through digital transformation and innovation.
The acquisition will strengthen IBS Software’s leadership as a technology provider to the air freight industry by bringing together complementary solutions and a shared vision for innovating and transforming the air cargo businesses. Boosting the freight business is an increasingly critical priority for airlines and the AFLS acquisition consolidates latest innovations to accelerate growth, especially AFLS’ cloud-based collaboration platforms which deliver advancements in airline partnerships – a major focus area for carriers.
The acquisition is also a strategic step in recognizing IBS Software’s vision to establish itself as an end-to-end player in the global freight supply chain. AFLS has a strong heritage in ocean freight innovation with a suite of new generation platforms that enable ocean carriers to automate critical business functions and make data-led decisions for commercial operations. Further, the transaction helps IBS Software to deploy its cargo and logistics management expertise in the ocean transportation sector.
This year, Finavia celebrates the major anniversaries of two of its airports. Ivalo and Oulu airports will celebrate their 80th and 70th anniversaries, respectively.
“The airports of Oulu and Ivalo have served passengers and airlines for decades and have developed into important hubs for tourism and business. Both airports ensure good connections and accessibility for the area,” says Jonna Pietilä, Finavia’s VP Northern Finland airports.
Over the past ten years, Finavia has made significant investments in the development of both Ivalo and Oulu airports. The company has invested tens of millions of euros in improving the infrastructure and services at its airports.
Ivalo Airport – the northernmost airport in Finland
“Ivalo Airport is the northernmost airport in Finavia’s airport network and in all of Finland. The Christmas season is the busiest time of the year at our airport, as tourists from all over the world come to admire the magic of Lapland,” says Jarmo Pyhäjärvi, Finavia’s Airport Manager of Ivalo Airport.
Pyhäjärvi says that the 80th anniversary is an important milestone for the airport. Ivalo Airport was originally completed in 1943 but was destroyed in the Lapland War in 1945. After the war, the airport was rebuilt. The gold rush in Lapland in particular gave an impetus to the rebuilding of the airport.
“Over the years, we have extended Ivalo Airport several times to serve the growing number of passengers. In 2016, 1,000 square metres of extra space was added to the terminal, and in 2018, the apron was extended, which doubled the number of aircraft stands, among other things. The latest extension took place in 2019, when the arrivals hall was completed.”
Work has begun on a nearly £7m Defence Infrastructure Organisation project to extend the lifespan of the runway at the Mount Pleasant Complex (MPC) airfield in the Falkland Islands.
The project includes repainting runway markings in reflective paint, replacing airfield signage and adding lights, and coating the runway asphalt with a layer of bitumen. This protective layer will extend the life of the runway until it can be fully re-laid in the coming years.
The £6.96m project was awarded to Mitie in June 2022 and will be undertaken by sub-contractor Gatwick Construction.
The project team will work at night to add a protective layer to the runway to avoid disruption. Importantly, the team will liaise closely with MPC staff on a daily basis and the work has been carefully planned to ensure there is no impact on airfield operations and flights can continue as scheduled. This is particularly important given that Mount Pleasant Complex is used for the airbridge flights to and from the UK, for LATAM flights connecting the Falkland Islands to South America, as well as by the Falkland Island Government Air Service (FIGAS) which connects MPC with the outlying islands of the Falklands.
DIO Project Manager Robert Handford said: "It’s exciting to begin this important work at Mount Pleasant Complex. Infrastructure projects in the Falkland Islands are complicated by the need to transport the necessary equipment by air or container ship, adding complexity to the preparations and requiring meticulous planning. It’s a testament to great teamwork between DIO, Mitie, Gatwick Construction and MPC personnel that everything is going according to plan."
Brian Talbot, Managing Director, Central Government & Defence, Mitie, said: "As proud supporters of the British Armed Forces, we are delighted to build on our long-standing relationship with DIO through the refurbishment of the Falkland Islands runway at the Mount Pleasant Complex. As a critical piece of infrastructure on the estate, our work on this project will help protect and extend the lifespan of the runway for years to come."
The project is expected to take about three months.
SOLiTHOR and Sonaca Sign New Memorandum of Understanding to Advance the Electrification of Regional Aircraft and Urban Air Mobility
The Belgian solid-state Lithium battery technology company, SOLiTHOR and the leading aerospace company, Sonaca, have signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding to go into partnership where they will jointly develop safe, high-density rechargeable solid-state Lithium battery systems for Regional Aircraft and Urban Air Mobility. This partnership will also expand to Satellite systems as well as Defence systems.
This alliance will divide key activities in the research, development, production and integration of cells and battery systems designed for powering aircraft. SOLiTHOR will be responsible for cell research, development, testing characterisation, format design and production of 10Ah-40Ah cell as it forges ahead. Sonaca will develop the battery packaging including all related management systems. It will also certify the battery system.
The cells will be produced and manufactured by SOLiTHOR in Sint-Truiden, Flanders, Belgium and the integration of the aircraft battery systems will take place at Sonaca's plant in Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium.
IBS Software Acquires Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS) to Bolster Air Cargo Capabilities and Extend into Ocean Freight & Logistics
The acquisition will help expand IBS Software’s footprint in the global freight supply chain, accelerating digital transformation and innovation
IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, has announced the completion of a transaction to acquire Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS). AFLS provides technology platforms to help airline and ocean transportation companies manage their freight operations and grow through digital transformation and innovation.
The acquisition will strengthen IBS Software’s leadership as a technology provider to the air freight industry by bringing together complementary solutions and a shared vision for innovating and transforming the air cargo businesses. Boosting the freight business is an increasingly critical priority for airlines and the AFLS acquisition consolidates latest innovations to accelerate growth, especially AFLS’ cloud-based collaboration platforms which deliver advancements in airline partnerships – a major focus area for carriers.
The acquisition is also a strategic step in recognizing IBS Software’s vision to establish itself as an end-to-end player in the global freight supply chain. AFLS has a strong heritage in ocean freight innovation with a suite of new generation platforms that enable ocean carriers to automate critical business functions and make data-led decisions for commercial operations. Further, the transaction helps IBS Software to deploy its cargo and logistics management expertise in the ocean transportation sector.
One of the leading airlines in North America, Air Canada announced it has launched digital identification, becoming the first airline in Canada with approval to offer customers the safety and convenience of a new option using facial recognition technology to confirm identification. In a pilot project currently underway, Air Canada's digital identification is now available for customers departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) when boarding select flights to Winnipeg, and for eligible customers entering the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Air Canada plans to expand digital identification options to select Canadian airports and Maple Leaf Lounges as part of its pilot project phase.
Pilot programme underway at YVR on select flights to Winnipeg, and at the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson
Digital credentials securely encrypted via the Air Canada mobile app
Passenger airport experience enhanced through paperless, seamless boarding option
"Many of our customers already utilize digital credentials to simplify their daily activities such as unlocking mobile phones, entering workplaces, verifying identification during financial transactions and more. We are very excited to now take a leadership position in Canada and test digital identification using facial recognition technology to validate customer identification quickly, securely and accurately at select airport touchpoints. Participation in digital identification is voluntary. Customers choosing to use digital identification will benefit from a simplified and seamless process at the gate and when entering our Maple Leaf Lounges," said Craig Landry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada.
"Our government and Canadian airlines and airports are eager to move forward with innovative solutions and technologies to modernize the traveller journey in airports across the country, which would enable a more seamless and efficient air transportation system. Air Canada's pilot project will speed up processes at YVR, and other airports where it's established, while respecting robust privacy measures and security standards. This project has great potential in making gate boarding easier and faster for Canadian passengers, while maintaining strong safety measures," said the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport – Government of Canada.
United Airlines is partnering with Virgin Australia to connect U.S. travellers to the world's largest celebration of Pride in Sydney with a special flight staffed entirely by members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. Departing on Wednesday, February 22 from San Francisco International Airport, the festivities will kick off with a celebration at the gate, continue with giveaways and activities onboard the flight and culminate with a welcome party upon arrival in Sydney. While Virgin Australia has offered special domestic flights in Australia for Pride since 2021, this is the first time United is joining this effort.
"As a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community and the leading carrier from the U.S. to Australia, United is thrilled to join the party and help people celebrate the upcoming Pride events in Sydney," said Lori Augustine, Vice President of Operations for United in San Francisco. "At United, we recognize, embrace and celebrate the differences that make our customers and employees unique. We're committed to creating an inclusive work environment while supporting the diverse communities we serve. Our Pride Flight is yet another example of how at United, Good Leads the Way."
"Virgin Australia launched our initial Pride Flight in the middle of the pandemic and fast forward to today, we have flights all over Australia, and our very first international Pride Flight from San Francisco with our wonderful partner, United Airlines," said Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO for Virgin Australia Group. "It's so important that we use our voice to promote diversity and inclusion in the communities in which we live, work and fly. Our partnership with United Airlines is incredibly important and it's so wonderful to witness the collaboration between the airlines, and the joy we have brought our guests in spreading pride right across the Pacific and throughout Australia."
When you're a flight attendant, feeling on top of the world comes with the job. One day you're lounging in a five-star hotel in Paris, the next you're watching a movie on a plane over the Atlantic with your new friends. But despite all those incredible experiences, money management can be tricky for flight attendants.
All too often, flight attendants find themselves overspending when they travel or even worse—losing out on potential savings opportunities entirely. With a little bit of financial savvy, though, it's possible to master the art of saving money as an air steward.
We're not here to tell you to take all the joy out of your amazing job—quite the contrary! We want you to keep soaring, like Icarus before his wax-melting demise, but this time, with the right money-saving tools in your arsenal.
To get you started on your journey to becoming a financial master of the skies, here are seven of the best strategies for saving money as a flight attendant that will help you keep your wallet in the clouds!
The Top 6 Ways Flight Attendants Can Save Money
1. Don't be ashamed of deals and discounts
Yes, we know that glitz and glamour are part of the job description, but when you're moving around as much as you do, the little things that come up with constant travel start to stack up.
For example, working a flight to a big city like Toronto or Tokyo means you get to enjoy the sights, but also means you need to factor in hotel and restaurant costs.
The 5-star hotel might be nice, but that doesn't mean you should deny yourself the chance to save on a more affordable option—especially if it's just for one night. Ditto for Michelin-starred restaurants—you don't want to miss out on an amazing experience, but if you can find a tasty, local spot with a cheaper menu, why not?
Do your research before you book a hotel or make dinner reservations: loyalty programs can offer great discounts, as well as group rates for large parties. And don't forget those coupon apps—they're a flight attendant's best friend!
You might think you're being a bit of a buzzkill if you opt for a discount option, but in today's world of hyper-connectivity and constant information sharing, it's becoming increasingly normal to make use of the deals that are out there.
2. Consider house sitting
House-sitting is the perfect way to get free accommodation while experiencing a new city or culture. It can also be incredibly rewarding if you're into having furry friends around.
Just make sure that the family whose home you'll be looking after is comfortable with their new arrangement, and remember to do some research to get a sense of the neighbourhood before committing.
And one more thing: if possible, look for house-sitting opportunities in cities where you already have contacts or know people who can vouch for the arrangement. That way, you'll have someone to turn to if there are any questions or issues that come up while you're away.
Saab has responded to a Request for Information (RFI) from NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency regarding a new generation of surveillance and control capabilities. Saab’s response is based on GlobalEye.
NATO will define its new generation capability within the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) project.
“Saab is a proven and trusted part of NATO’s defence industrial base and we are present in more than two thirds of the member nations. Our solutions, including GlobalEye, are from the outset developed to be compliant with NATO’s requirements. I am confident that we can contribute with important capabilities that will strengthen NATO and benefit the member countries,” says Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab´s business area Surveillance.
GlobalEye is a multi-domain Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) solution with an array of active and passive sensors that provide long-range detection and identification of objects in air, at sea and over land. By providing real-time information to units in air forces, armies and navies, GlobalEye enables enhanced situational awareness of the surrounding areas and early detection of threats. It can also be used for non-military tasks such as leading and coordinating rescue missions during natural disasters or larger accidents at sea or on land.
AirAsia X Berhad, the mid-range affiliate airline of AirAsia Aviation Group has reported its financial results for the Sixth Quarter of 2022 and full Financial Year 2022 ending 31 December, 2022.
The Company recorded a significant improvement in revenue of RM339.3 million in 6Q22 by carrying 337,638 passengers, boosted by the year-end peak travel season. In addition, average base fare in 6Q22 was a record-high at RM866 strengthened by the as-anticipated and continuing pent-up demand for international air travel within the region. Ancillary revenue per passengers marked RM196 during the quarter, up 17% compared to the same period in 2019. Passenger Load Factor (“PLF”) was healthy at 79%, up six percentage points from the previous quarter, and showed an over 97% recovery of the same period in 2019. These positive key metrics resulted in the Company posting net operating profit of RM149.6 million and net profit of RM153.5 million. The Company has also managed to strengthen its cash position, which stood at RM181.9 million as of December 2022.
On the cost side, the Company showed a significant improvement. The Cost per Available Seat Kilometre (“CASK”) in 6Q22 was recorded at 9.98 sen compared to 13.49 sen in 5Q22, while CASK ex-fuel dropped substantially to 1.42 sen from 6.95 sen in 5Q22. When compared to 4Q19, both CASK and CASK ex-fuel reduced substantially by 25% and 83% respectively, on the back of a revised cost structure post-restructuring. Revenue per Available Seat Kilometres (“RASK”) for the quarter stood at 19.96 sen, an increase of 13% from 5Q22, and surged by 53% when compared to RASK of 13 sen in 4Q19. In 6Q22, the Company launched flights to Melbourne, Perth, Sydney-Auckland, Tokyo-Haneda, Sapporo, Taipei, Jeddah and Bali-Denpasar, ending the quarter with 14 routes within its network.
Sansa Airlines Optimizes its Commercial Operations in Costa Rica and Central America through Partnership with GO7
Sansa Airlines (SANSA), the leading domestic carrier in Costa Rica, has partnered with GO7, a travel technology company committed to transforming travel brands by putting power back into their hands, to support the airline's growth and distribution strategies in the Central American region. SANSA is utilizing GO7's AeroCRS solution for inventory management, reservations and flight/fare management technology.
By partnering with GO7, SANSA can deliver better service and more options to its passengers and improve its agility in response to competitive challenges and rapidly changing demand trends. Since going live with AeroCRS by GO7 in 2022, SANSA has already relaunched its service between San Jose and Nicaragua's capital city, Managua and is planning a new connection to Panama in 2023.
"Partnering with GO7 complements our growth and expansion plans perfectly," said Julio Caballero, Managing Partner of SANSA. "Throughout the onboarding and implementation process, our team has enjoyed exemplary communication with the GO7 team; they've listened to all our needs and delivered solutions, and the training process was thorough and efficient. We look forward to growing our operation and increasing passenger volume with the help of GO7's purpose-built and unique solutions."
The objective of the collaboration is to create a scalable framework for establishing commercial roaming agreements between respective members.
The Seamless Air Alliance, which continues to lead the development and implementation of Global Standards for Inflight Connectivity, and the GSMA, the global organisation unifying the world’s mobile ecosystem, today announced a collaboration that will facilitate and accelerate the availability of seamless mobile roaming onboard commercial airlines.
In recent months, collaboration between MNOs and U.S.-based carriers such as American, Delta, United and Alaska Airlines have provided a preview of what the future holds for similar agreements. Today’s announcement between the Seamless Air Alliance and the GSMA will help drive cooperation between global carriers and mobile network operators worldwide.
The two respected bodies have complementary visions, the GSMA’s is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive, whereas the Seamless Air Alliance wishes to extend the connectivity experience on the ground to airline passengers in the sky. This collaboration will enable the organizations to co-create a scalable roaming framework that is backed by the industry and will bring proper connectivity to the skies above us.
Commenting on this announcement, Jack Mandala, CEO of the Seamless Air Alliance said, “Working with the GSMA positions us in front of over 750 mobile network operators and other service providers, paving the way to open dialogue and cooperation in bringing roaming services to airlines worldwide. The agreement with the GSMA is a ringing validation of our goal to bring seamless connectivity to airlines and their passengers”
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU was signed with the purpose of providing a framework on the provision of Ethiopian Airlines products and services to IGAD. Per the MoU, Ethiopian Airlines will also provide hospitability services to IGAD at Ethiopian Skylight Hotel and assign a dedicated team to handle travel and hospitality need of IGAD.
Following the signing of the MoU, Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Commercial Officer Mr Lemma Yadecha said; “We are pleased to have signed this agreement with IGAD and play our part in the region’s socio-economic development. Ethiopian Airlines operates more than 20 flights daily to IGAD member states, playing a significant role in the socio-economic ties in the region and facilitating a way to achieve the economic cooperation and regional integration that IGAD strives to achieve. Furthermore, being the largest passenger and cargo destination operating carrier in Africa, our vast network offers convenient access to more than 130 destinations worldwide and we are more than happy to offer that.”
It is to be recalled that Ethiopian Airlines signed a strategic partnership agreement with International Djibouti Industrial Park Operation (IDIPO) and Air Djibouti to jointly commence sea-air multimodal transportation for expeditious transportation of goods to Africa back in March 2022, taking its cargo transportation sector to a multimodal level. The existence of this agreement alongside the extensive, strong cargo operation of Ethiopian, we believe this agreement further eases IGAD’s objectives to mobilize resources within the framework of regional cooperation.
Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest-growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy-six-plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. In addition to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it is also pursuing its multi-hub strategy through a hub in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 145 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian’s fleet consists of ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 767-300, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900 and Bombardier Dash 8-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate most of these aircraft.
Jet2.com has been awarded with the prestigious accolade of Airline Market Leader at the ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards.
The ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards recognise excellence across a broad range of airline operations globally and are widely considered the most coveted in the air transport industry.
Jet2.com was praised for developing a network of leisure services across Europe, holding the number one position in many markets.
The award also recognises the increasing number of sales accounted for by Jet2holidays, as well as Jet2.com's focus on profitability, operational reliability, customer service and a net zero strategy that is committed to addressing sustainability at every stage of the journey.
The 49th ATW Awards, sponsored by CFM International, will be presented at a gala dinner on Friday 2nd June, ahead of the 79th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit.
The Australian carrier Qantas has announced it will significantly enhance its network of lounges in Australia and overseas, elevating the pre-flight and transit travel experience for customers to a new level of luxury at key destinations.
The $100-million investment features four brand new lounges, including a new flagship First Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport, and an extensive upgrade program of existing international and domestic lounges, including:
New First Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport
Re-opening of a refreshed Hong Kong International Lounge
Complete refurbishment and expansion of International Business Lounge in Sydney
Updated and expanded International Business Lounge in Melbourne
New Hobart Qantas Club
New Broome Regional Lounge with double the seats
It’s the single biggest investment in the Qantas lounge network in more than a decade and comes as the airline expands its Domestic and International routes and starts to take delivery of next-generation aircraft.
The $100-million investment in lounges is phased over three years and is included in the Group’s existing capital expenditure forecast.
The national carrier has an extensive lounge network, including 42 in Australia (12 of which are in regional destinations) and 9 overseas.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the faster-than-expected recovery in travel demand meant the airline could accelerate investment in its award-winning lounge network.
“Being back in profit means we’re back to making long-term investments for our customers. That started with the major aircraft order we announced last year and now we’re building on that with a major investment in our lounges,” said Mr Joyce.
“Millions of people a year visit our lounges and they are typically our frequent flyers who travel with us the most, so anything we do to improve them is a way of saying thank you to our most loyal customers.
“We have three new and upgraded lounge spaces due to open this year and the pipeline we’re announcing today will take us through to 2025.
“London is one of the most important destinations on our network and it’s the perfect location for a First Lounge, especially with our direct Project Sunrise flights on the way. Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports so we’re very pleased to be working with them to secure a great space in the terminal for an additional lounge,” Mr Joyce added.
Subject to agreement with Heathrow Airport and UK regulators, the luxury London First Lounge is expected to feature direct access to boarding gates, sweeping views of the airfield, a focus on wellbeing features and an unrivalled dining experience. The targeted opening date will align with the first Project Sunrise flights direct to Sydney.
The Qantas global lounge upgrade program includes:
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