Spiking fuel costs, low-cost competition, changing business models and new technologies have forced nearly everyone in the airline industry to consider how best to use IT to optimize efficiencies and cut costs. This special section on the airline industry offers case studies, analysis and expert opinion on how technology can help the industry get back on track.
Case Studies:
At a time when most U.S.-based airlines are courting bankruptcy, Continental is turning to IT to improve customer service and beat the competition.
Common-use IT networks made Toronto a pioneer among North American airports. The new shared-services approach should save millions, create revenue and improve passenger service. So why was it such a hard sell?
Delta Air Lines says technology will be a key part of its transformation from a bankrupt to a viable airline, but first it’ll have to convince creditors that its yet-to-be-selected 2006 projects are worth the effort.
The new US Airways formed from the combination of low-cost carrier America West Airlines and the twice-bankrupt US Airways, officially took flight on Sept. 27, 2005.
Analysis:
New wireless services can improve the customer experience and save the airlines money.
Can technology save the airline industry? Can anything save the airline industry?
Opinion:
The chief economist for the Air Transport Association says 2006 is the best year since 2000 for revenue, but fuel costs and antiquated flight-tracking pose financial and safety concerns.
Open-source parallel processing helps an emerging low-cost carrier maximize capacity and improve revenue.
Jim Burke believes that common use is common sense. Like a lot of other common-sense approaches, it’s proving revolutionary.
Q&A with CIO Paul Coby on reengineering IT