Platforms and innovations
In a complex and dynamic environment such as the airline business, the decision-making process must take into account a large number of factors from a variety of disciplines. Lufthansa Systems is therefore developing integrated platforms that will do exactly this for all airline business processes. These platforms combine stand-alone systems into one seamless solution, cut the number of interfaces, and reduce costs for our customers. They are modular in design, which means that their functionality can be adjusted to suit the particular requirements of each individual airline.
With our Lido eFlightBag, Lufthansa Systems is already the market leader in paperless cockpit technology. With “EFB Next Gen”, the next generation of electronic flight bags, we have just extended our lead.
Integration for better and faster decisions
To ensure the smooth functioning of an airline, a whole range of operational departments must work closely together. When flights are delayed or canceled, it is important to minimize the consequences for passengers as much as possible while also keeping costs in check. A growing number of airlines are starting to bring all of their specialists together in an Integrated Operations Control Center (IOCC) in order to increase the speed and quality of decision-making. With its innovative IOCC platform, Lufthansa Systems provides an IT solution that supports the ‘networked’ working methods which are critical to success.
An innovative platform for airfreight
A new kind of IT platform is now helping airlines to optimize and reduce the cost of their airfreight processes. With its AdvancedCargo Suite, Lufthansa Systems provides modules for the three key processes of booking, aircraft handling and revenue accounting. AdvancedBooking manages the booking process uniformly across all sales channels and delivers data of the highest quality and reliability. AdvancedGroundHandling supports the handling and transport of cargo including automatic connections to customs and warehouse systems. AdvancedAccounting is a proven revenue accounting system for cargo companies which provides reliable flight operations data and considerably simplifies and accelerates accounting and billing processes.
Maintaining a financial overview
Having a precise overview of ongoing operations, including profitability and the financial situation, is vital in a keenly competitive environment such as the airline industry. This is why Lufthansa Systems has developed the first integrated platform for airline financial management. The Sirax AirFinance Platform offers a number of different modules covering all financial bases, from revenue accounting to cost control. It gives airlines a regular, comprehensive overview of their financial situation, enabling them to adjust quickly to changes and thereby ensuring their success in the marketplace.
News
SAS Group opts for Sirax AirFinance Platform from Lufthansa Systems
Extensive functionality and high flexibility deliver efficient processes.
SAS Revenue Information A/S and Lufthansa Systems have just signed a six-year implementation and service contract for the Sirax AirFinance Platform. SAS Revenue Information performs revenue accounting for the SAS Group consisting of SAS Scandinavian Airlines, airBaltic, Spanair, Blue1 and Widerøe, as well as for external airline clients. All of them will optimize their accounting processes and increase their productivity with the Sirax module.
The implementation of the Sirax AirFinance Platform for SAS began in May 2008 and will be completed by the end of 2009. The agreement also covers the operation of the systems based on an ASP (application service providing) model.
Emirates to fly with electronic navigation charts from Lufthansa Systems
The Dubai-based carrier has been using Lido RouteManual, the navigation chart solution from Lufthansa Systems, since April 2008. In the first phase, Emirates Airline relies on Lido RouteManual paper navigation charts. Meanwhile, the implementation of Lido eRouteManual electronic charts will be started as a Class I solution based on laptop computers. This will later be changed to an integrated Class II system, featuring the complete application including airport charts.
The decision in favor of Lido eRouteManual came just weeks after the contract between Emirates and Lufthansa Systems to use the Lido Operations Center (Lido OC) flight planning solution for another five years. Lido OC uses a large number of parameters to calculate the optimal route for each flight before departure, supporting airlines in minimizing their fuel and operating costs. At the same time, it maintains safety and flexibility in operations. With its modern technology and user-friendly architecture, Lido OC covers all aspects of flight planning and the associated follow-up processes.
Emirates has been an established customer of Lufthansa Systems for more than ten years. Over 160 airlines around the world use solutions from the Airline Operations Solutions division of Lufthansa Systems to optimize their flight operations.
Royal Air Maroc links international stations with SkyConnect from Lufthansa Systems
The Moroccan flag carrier Royal Air Maroc will be using the managed WAN solution, SkyConnect from Lufthansa Systems for data transfer between its sites in Africa and the Middle East and its headquarter in Casablanca. Migrating to SkyConnect will enable Royal Air Maroc to modernize its existing data network in order to flexibly integrate its commercial applications and add new functionalities such as voice over IP telephony in the future.
Combining high availability with exceptionally large data capacity, SkyConnect is a global multi-provider network which airlines and other international companies can use to transfer data quickly and securely. With SkyConnect, Lufthansa Systems can offer its customers high flexibility and the best value for money. The solution also provides rapid assistance in the event of a fault. Because the infrastructure in parts of Africa does not always meet modern telecommunications requirements, Lufthansa Systems will use satellite and Internet connections to guarantee the high availability of the data network.
Trends
Revenue Integrity makes flying more profitable and secure
Today’s airline business is a highly competitive environment. Every dollar counts, as airlines cannot afford to forego any potential proceeds. With Revenue Integrity, Lufthansa Systems offers a tool to help reduce distribution costs, boost sales revenue, and increase on-board security. The suite spots duplicate PNRs, elapsed ticketing time limits or fictitious names. It can also identify passengers based on criteria defined by authorities or the airline for security reasons.
The benefits of the Revenue Integrity suite for an airline are obvious. The tool prevents a large number of "no-shows" on an airline’s flights. As a result, the seat load factor rises significantly. Demand forecast and flight control are improved, the yield increases, and passenger satisfaction rises due to faster waitlist confirmation. For carriers flying to countries such as the U.S., the tool is a perfect way to comply with official security requirements. Revenue Integrity covers airlines’ standard requirements more than any tool on the market. It has the most user-friendly interface, offers maximum rule flexibility, and the most comprehensive checks.
Take advantage of the opportunity and find out the additional value that could be generated by using our sophisticated Revenue Integrity module!
Calculate the additional value
The right aircraft for every flight
The correct choice of aircraft is crucial for airlines. It directly affects the profitability of a flight and of the entire operation. The better the match of seating capacity to the number of passengers booked, the more profitable the flight will be. This is where fleet assignment comes in. The term describes the process of assigning the right aircraft to each flight. It is not only influenced by passenger demand. Departure time, day of the week, airport restrictions, flight distance, aircraft availability, and many other parameters need to be taken into consideration. Maintenance requirements and labor regulations require schedules to be confirmed five to six weeks before the actual flight. This is much too early for truly optimized scheduling. In the past there was no other option but to work with these long-term and therefore imprecise forecast data.
Lufthansa Systems has now introduced NetLine/Sched Swapper, an innovative optimizer tool for fleet assignment that seeks out potential improvements which can save large amounts of money for an international network carrier. The new concept enables an airline to identify and carry out optimizations until shortly before the time of departure, within the framework of legal regulations, and with minimum effort. This ensures maximum profitability of the overall flight schedule.
NetLine/Sched Swapper is one of the advanced optimizing tools of the NetLine/Sched schedule management suite which supports the development,management, optimization, and implementation of alternative network strategies.
Higher efficiency and flexible route options with Lido OC TFR module
Finding an optimal route for each flight is the daily challenge of every flight planner. Besides such factors as weather conditions and country-and airport-specific regulations, flight planners also need to adhere to current air traffic capacity and flow management rules. These highly complex rules, also known as Traffic Flow Restrictions (TFR), are set by air traffic control authorities in order to guarantee a smooth traffic flow while at the same time optimizing ATC capacity and safety. Common examples of such Traffic Flow Restrictions are temporary restrictions of certain flight paths, restrictions for certain aircraft, flight levels or routes, as well as restrictions for take-off and landing.
Lufthansa Systems has recently presented its innovative TFR module which is an add-on to its successful flight planning solution Lido Operations Center (Lido OC). As an industry first, the module automatically considers even partly restricted airways, suggesting by-passes where legally permitted, for the most effective combination of airway segments. Therefore the bundle of possible routings is enhanced by those routes which are partly restricted resulting in even a larger pool of possible routings that can be considered for an optimal flight planning.
Automating this process is an enormous step forward and enables dispatchers to focus on other important tasks. By optimizing the process of flight planning through the TFR module, an airline can further enhance ecological and economical efficiency. Network carriers, regional and budget airlines alike directly save costs and emissions with this latest innovation in airline IT.
