Hot Topics
NetLine/Ops NG – More control and flexibility in airline operations
Lufthansa Systems upgrades proven solution for operations control
Most people would agree: A tried and tested solution should never be changed. Changes come with risks and uncertainties, and the customers’ reactions are hard to foresee. Still, there are compelling arguments for change at times. It definitely makes sense to regularly check the current system features and performance against customers’ requirements and the latest technological developments. In fact, when the NetLine/Ops team at Lufthansa Systems was examining the potential of their trusted solution, they had a range of ideas how to make a very good product even better. The result is now available: NetLine/Ops NG.
The next generation of NetLine/Ops contains major system enhancements and was designed to face future challenges. For two years, IT specialists, mathematicians and airline professionals worked to enhance the already industry-leading functionalities of NetLine/Ops. The upgrade was rounded off by a completely new look and feel to make navigation even easier.
NetLine/Ops, the operations control system of the integrated NetLine suite, performs an extremely complex process. It controls an airline’s aircraft movements on the day of operation and enables carriers to react swiftly and efficiently to schedule changes on short notice. These might occur due to weather, technical or other irregularities. Incoming movement messages are evaluated automatically, while last minute changes are processed in a number of possible scenarios. The system delivers all the information the operations controller requires to make a decision, resulting in the smallest possible inconvenience for passengers and still maintaining an efficient operation. Product previews have generated an extremely positive feedback from customers.
Unlike previous versions, NetLine/Ops NG was designed for modern client-server technology. This results in increased serviceability. The new release is a state-of-the-art, lean system giving users a great amount of flexibility. It is based on Java 6.0 which was the prerequisite for the redesigned graphical user interface (GUI). The new GUI design is the result of our experts’ long experience in the area of operations control, combined with feedback from users. Under the new architecture which distributes data to several clients, the system’s processing speed is much higher than that of its predecessor. Customers enjoy greater flexibility as the system can be tailored even closer to their needs.
Another important quality aspect is the integration of the NetLine products. As platform solutions gain relevance, it is important to streamline all components of the product suite for smooth interaction. In the end, the customers have a truly integrated product line at their disposal. For example, NetLine/Ops NG uses the same Gantt chart as NetLine/Plan, the proven network planning solution, which underwent a major upgrade last year.
NetLine/Ops is now ready for the future. For airlines worldwide, this is a strong argument to go for a change.
Lufthansa Systems’ ELWIS increases efficiency in cargo handling
Cargo handling is an increasingly demanding business. Competition is tough; the pressure to reduce costs is as high as anywhere in the airline business. And with the crucial role of airfreight as part of an often world spanning logistics chain the customers expect better service and fast information. To enable customers meeting all these challenges Lufthansa Systems has developed ELWIS (Electronic Logistics & Warehouse Information System), a modular IT solution for air cargo ground handling.
Today, ELWIS is used at 25 airports in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America handling more than 3.2 million tons freight per year which makes it the leading standard IT system for this part of the aviation business. Al Alamain International Airport in Egypt and Tirana International Airport in Albania are the latest customers to opt for ELWIS to simplify and automate its cargo handling processes.
ELWIS covers the entire handling process from the physical handling to documentation and invoicing. Thanks to its numerous interfaces it is able to exchange data with national and international authorities, airports, airlines, freight forwarders and customs. This reduces the amount of paperwork drastically, saves time and reduces errors, which typically occur when data are handled manually. And instead of having to deal with various different front ends there now is one user friendly systems.
ELWIS integrates the latest technology along the transportation chain be it automatic weight scales, barcode scanning, wireless technology, RFID or the use of PDA and makes it possible to control the entire handling process automatically. This leads to impressive efficiency gains. Some customers have been able to nearly double their handling capacity without increasing their work force. At the same time they experience a significantly better quality because ELWIS provides the tools for tracking and tracing, monitoring functions, reporting and irregularity handling.
Because of its modular structure it is easy to integrate ELWIS into an existing IT infrastructure and to adapt it to the specific needs of every customer. Furthermore, ELWIS is part of the AdvancedCargo Suite, the innovative air cargo IT platform from Lufthansa Systems.