insight newsletter - May 2009

Jetstar Asia and Lufthansa Systems are marking the first anniversary of their successful cooperation. In April 2008, the Singapore-based airline started flying with the innovative navigation charts, Lido RouteManual. This makes Jetstar Asia a member of the growing group of airlines profiting from the advantages of Lufthansa Systems’ aeronautical solutions.

Moreover, Virgin Blue’s new international airline, V Australia, will use Lido RouteManual for its air and ground navigation purposes. The carrier has also chosen the Lido FMS Navigation Database Service for the central flight management of its growing fleet. In addition, V Australia opted for Lido eAPM, the electronic aircraft performance monitoring solution. The continuous monitoring of the individual performance parameters of each aircraft enables the airline to save fuel and increase revenues due to a higher cargo capacity.

The Lido RouteManual is an especially attractive proposition for airlines that plan to migrate to the Lido eRouteManual electronic navigation solution at a later time as the design and structure of the paper-based charts is identical to that of the electronic version. The electronic route charts are part of the Lido eFlightBag, our innovative, paperless working platform for the cockpit crew.

Luxair has selected Lufthansa Systems’ ProfitLine/Yield Rembrandt to modernize its revenue management. The solution will enable the Luxembourg airline to optimize its saleable capacities and thus increase revenues. Both companies have just signed a ten-year contract to this effect. With this agreement Luxair and Lufthansa Systems are expanding their long-standing, successful cooperation.

Furthermore, the Swedish regional carrier City Airline will optimize its revenue management with ProfitLine/Yield Rembrandt. Both companies recently signed a five-year contract to this effect.

ProfitLine/Yield Rembrandt is a leading revenue management solution. It has been specifically designed for the needs of mid-size airlines and low-cost carriers. Even airlines already using another revenue management system can increase their profitability and market share. By switching to ProfitLine/Yield Rembrandt a typical mid-size airline can increase its revenues by up to USD 6 million per year. The system covers all core processes of revenue management – from data loading and demand forecasting to optimizing availability data – and offers an extensive reporting tool. It enables airlines to recognize market opportunities at an early stage and to react quickly to market changes.

Lufthansa Systems will connect Ethiopian Airlines’ worldwide sites with Managed WAN Services. Our solution will ensure reliable, fast and secure data traffic between its more than 100 city and airport offices around the globe.

With SkyConnect, Lufthansa Systems provides a global network which carries airline data traffic quickly and securely. The multi-provider network is composed of the best available sub-networks of various regions and local providers (best-of-breed concept). It combines high availability and maximum flexibility which are essential for the business-critical applications of Ethiopian Airlines. The solution also provides fast response in the event of an outage and enhances transparent invoicing known as “Easy Billing.”

The Managed WAN Services offer economic advantages as well. Since the multi-provider concept will enable Ethiopian Airlines to reduce its network costs, this investment will pay off quickly and in the long run will make a significant contribution to the strategic business performance. Ethiopian Airlines will also benefit from Lufthansa Systems’ established position in Africa. Several customers in the region, among them Etihad and Royal Air Maroc, are already using Managed WAN Services. They all take advantage of the provider’s experience in areas with limited IT infrastructure as is the case in some parts of Africa.

For most passengers, using cellular phones or other mobile devices has become a matter of course. But using these devices merely to make phone calls is a thing of the past: the mobile phone of today is an interactive device performing a host of functions. Ready and available at all times, it offers travelers the quickest and most convenient way of checking in for a flight. With Lufthansa Systems’ GroundSolutions/Mobile, airlines can offer their passengers this modern channel. Travelers appreciate it because they can decide for themselves how, where, and when to check in.

The module provides state-of-the-art self-service check-in via mobile website or SMS dialogue – and all this without waiting in line. It meets the needs of today’s travelers, from flight selection and seat reservation to receipt of the electronic boarding pass on their mobile devices.

With this innovative solution, airlines address a growing customer group. They stand out from the competition and position themselves in the market as future-oriented carriers. And not least, airlines save considerable costs thanks to an automated and paperless check-in. Now is the time to go mobile!

GroundSolutions/Mobile is a component of our GroundSolutions Platform, which embraces all check-in channels as well as boarding. The solution reduces costs by exploiting the synergies of shared business services and enables carriers to address the needs of different customer groups.

Analyzing and evaluating worldwide booking data is an essential part of market monitoring in the aviation industry today. Airlines must have a solid knowledge of their own market position in order to optimize their sales and marketing strategies. Market data is also an important source of information for our NetLine network management solution. In light of this, we integrated Advance, our established market information system, into our NetLine Suite: Renamed as NetLine/Market, it adds true value for our customers.

Being ahead of the competition

NetLine/Market is a strategic tool for detailed sales and network planning. It enables airlines to grasp their exact market position instantly and to examine their competitors’ network and sales performance in detail. Thus, NetLine/Market shows planners which markets or routes are covered by competing airlines and how many passengers have booked seats on which routes via which channels. The analysis of these market movements is extremely valuable for an airline’s own strategy.

With NetLine/Market, airlines can focus on the most profitable markets – and do it before anyone else. A quick response to market changes and the early identification of future trends are two vital competitive advantages. The ability to view information from any perspective and at any level of detail is the key to efficient sales and network management.

Lufthansa Systems sees a growing potential in the Chinese market. An interview with Norbert Müller, Senior Vice President Sales Asia & Pacific at Lufthansa Systems, as published by China Civil Aviation Magazine, March 2009 issue.

To the interview