Over the next year, Fort Worth-based American will roll out various computer programs that will enable the airline to better manage its inventory and do more targeted offers of products, like hotel rooms to a passenger whose flight may be canceled.
"It allows us to take any combination of services that we sell, whether it’s carrying a bag for you, accessing the Admirals Club, purchasing Wi-Fi or food during your flight, and allow us to package those things more effectively and quickly and target them to an individual or group," said American’s chief information officer, Monte Ford.
Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Google has agreed to acquire ITA for $700 million, but Ford said that presented no obstacles to working with ITA.
American chose ITA because it could create a software platform designed for all distribution channels and could be modified to work with new technology, Ford said. He added that global distribution system companies, like Sabre and Galileo, also bid on the project.
American and online travel agencies, including Sabre, are locked in a dispute related to fees that the distribution systems charge the airline for each ticket or product booked through those systems. American has said it is trying to lower its distribution costs by having customers buy tickets and other products directly from the airline.
via blogs.star-telegram
No comments:
Post a Comment