HAVING ramped up its airline IT business, Amadeus sees bright skies ahead in the growth area of airport IT, as its new division looks to sell a suite of some 20 modules to all relevant actors including ground handlers and airlines.
Recently-appointed head of airport IT, John Jarrell, told Asia-Pacific media that Amadeus had whittled down the 100 systems currently being used by airports by about a fifth. These will cover areas such as ground operations, passengers and bags, and will be different from the Altéa Departure Control System for Ground Handlers.
However, integration with Altéa, Amadeus’ technology platform used by over 100 airlines, is possible, which means flight information from the millions of passengers boarded can be tapped.
Said Jarrell: “Today airports are sorely lacking in information. How many times are (travellers) there when the flight is not there and the flight information display still says the flight is leaving on time? It happens all the time because they don’t have seamless information (transfers) with the airlines.”
He added that Amadeus’ USPs include its service model of providing software “in the cloud” and transaction-based pricing, which reduces the need for costly investments and makes it even easier for developing countries to adopt. As this platform will be sold around the world, it will also breed greater collaboration between airports.
Jarrell was not able to disclose specifics at this stage, but said more details on the modules would be available by early next year.
He estimated the airport IT market to be worth some €2.4 billion (US$3 billion) a year, but admitted that this was still just a small percentage of the money that could be made from airline IT. Ultimately, Amadeus wants to get all airlines onto a single IT platform, which it says will benefit all stakeholders.
According to Amadeus’ new report surveying over 800 passengers, expectations of airports are evolving: 62 per cent wanted to make airports and flying as part of the travel experience, and more than half desired location-based services and remote check-in and bag collection.
– Read more about Amadeus’ growth in Asia-Pacific in TTG Asia August 10, 2012
