SeatBoost’s Post

Today at the Future Travel Experience Ancillary & Retailing event, I gained valuable insights into airline retailing strategies from industry experts Ricard Vilà of LATAM Airlines, Keith Martin from Lufthansa Group, and Wong Mei Hong of AirAsia. Key takeaways from the session: 🔵 AirAsia highlighted its success in developing a super app for travelers, emphasizing the importance of focusing on core customer value even with an established customer base. This strategic direction appears to be the most promising for airlines in today's market. 🔵 The concept of digital retail models, including selling flights from other airlines, gained traction among industry leaders, notably from AirAsia. 🔵 The significance of flexibility in executing significant transformations within the airline sector was underscored. 🔵 A forecast was made that by 2030, digital airlines will revolutionize the travel experience. The event also highlighted a mix of good and bad news; while airlines are evolving slowly but steadily, the industry is on track for transformation by embracing digital advancements. ☘️Thanks Eric Léopold for the great moderation of the session. #Airlines #TravelIndustry #RetailingStrategies #FutureTravelExperience #DigitalTransformation

Connecting the Nordics to Greater Flight Networks Air France -KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SAS - Scandinavian Airlines have joined forces, creating a new era of connectivity for the Nordics. This partnership, forged as SAS joins the SkyTeam alliance, brings countless benefits to travelers and the tourism industry. * Expanded Destinations: Access to 33 new destinations in Northern Europe, making travel easier and more accessible. * Increased Flights: Up to 200 weekly flights between major hubs, enhancing travel options and flexibility. * Loyalty Benefits: Reciprocal loyalty programs, allowing members to earn and spend miles across all flights. * Tourism Growth: Boosts tourism by making the Nordic regions more accessible to global travelers. * Global Visibility: Elevates the global presence of SAS, attracting new passengers and increasing connectivity. The Nordics, with their rich culture and stunning landscapes, are now within easier reach. This partnership not only strengthens business ties but also opens the door for more tourists to explore the unique beauty of Northern Europe. The skies are open, and the opportunities are endless. #NordicConnectivity #AirTravel #TourismBoost #SkyTeamAlliance #GlobalTravel #NordicDestinations #TravelBenefits

Tack så mycket 🇸🇪- Thank you!   Last night we hosted a #dinner here in #Stockholm with our key #customers and #partners. We welcomed CEOs and leaders from a diverse mix of tour operators, TMCs and local OTAs for both the corporate and growing leisure segment. We believe in strong local #partnerships and an open #feedback culture. We were able to discuss challenges but most importantly #opportunities in the area of #sustainability, #technology and our new #products.    #Sweden 🇸🇪 is a key market for us in #Scandinavia and we also discussed our strategy for this important market – especially in light of SAS's exit from Star Alliance at the end of this month.   We see this as a great #opportunity to #strengthen our own position in #Scandinavia.  - We ensure that Scandinavia 🇸🇪 🇩🇰 🇳🇴 remains #connected to the largest global alliance with an attractive offer  - We continuously evaluate our #network presence and adjust to meet the needs of our Scandinavian customers - We recently signed a new #codeshare agreement with #Wideroe, bringing us as close as possible to the doorsteps of our customers in Norway 🇳🇴 - For our customers in Sweden 🇸🇪, we will continue to use SAS on selected Scandinavian routes to provide a seemless feed into our Lufthansa Group network - We will ensure #smooth journeys for our top customers with lounge solutions, fast track and other priority services at all airports in Scandinavia  - We have been able to attract more than 20,000 Eurobonus members to match their frequent flyer status with our powerful Miles&More program #lufthansagroup #teamnortherneurope Lorenza Maggio Håkan Bäverstrand Xavier Viteri

This morning at Future Travel Experience Ancillary & Retailing we dedicated a session to the latest airline retailing strategies, featuring 3 major airline groups based in Latin America, Europe and Southeast Asia respectively: 👉 Ricard Vila, LATAM Airlines 👉 Keith Martin, Lufthansa Group 👉 Wong Mei Hong, AirAsia Ursula Silling, Branchspace - digital reinvented, added her insights from her projects with airlines. My key takeaways: 👉 The most challenging, and rewarding, part of a major digital transformation is the human part. Digital talent, culture and mindset, is the catalyst of the digital airline. 👉 A "Digital Talent Model" provides a structured approach that translates into measurable performance (organizational health) which leads to agility and responsiveness that customers can feel. 👉 Even the most structured airline cannot plan a major transformation at a very detailed level. The execution will require agility and adjustments, including at financial and budget level. 👉 Digital retailers can sell products for which they don't control the inventory. Will airlines become digital retailers selling other airlines' flights, as already happening in the "interline" model? 👉 The emergence of digital airlines, combining digital talents, processes and technologies, will transform the travel experience by 2030 #digitalairlines #retailingstrategies #sunnydublin

🌟 Sabre’s Dual Approach to NDC: Revolutionizing Travel 🌟 At Sabre, we’re leading the way in integrating New Distribution Capability (NDC) into the travel industry with a comprehensive approach: 1. Distribution: Enabling travel agents and OTAs to access rich, personalized airline content, enhancing the shopping experience. 2. Airline IT: Empowering airlines with efficient NDC content management and real-time updates through solutions like SabreMosaic™ NDC IT. 🌍Benefits to OTAs and Travel Agents✈️ -Access to comprehensive travel options -Enhanced, dynamic booking experiences -Real-time, accurate information -Increased revenue opportunities -Streamlined operations By offering both NDC distribution and IT, Sabre sets a new industry standard, benefiting both airlines and travel agents. #Travel #NDC #Innovation #Sabre #CorporateTravel

Efficient Navigation & Services: New iQR Code Solution @Frankfurt Airport 🛫 Starting mid-June 2024, passengers at Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 1, Level A, can seamlessly organize their travel information and services with a new project. By scanning QR codes, they can quickly access relevant information. 📲 These Dynamic iQR Codes 🚀 are adaptable and location-specific, guiding passengers to special landing pages tailored to their exact location. This user-friendly interface consolidates all necessary services in one place. Gate Landing Pages ✈️ Each Gate in Area A has its own landing page featuring: Wayfinding: Link to Fraport’s airport map. Flight Information: Shows all Lufthansa Group flights via a specially developed API (more airlines coming soon). More Comfort: Info on upgrades, lounge access, and boarding processes. Airport Experience: Access to the FrAwards gamification platform, shopping, discounts, and dining options in Frankfurt. Service Center landing page (Normal Operations) 🌐 Wayfinding: Link to Fraport’s airport map. Flight Information: Display of all Lufthansa Group flights. Boarding Pass: Link to Lufthansa's online check-in. Lounge Information: Lounge access requirements in Frankfurt. Help: Link to Lufthansa’s help page. Service Center landing page (Disruptions) ⚠️ Rebooking: Login page for rebooking Hotel: Info on reimbursements Train: Info on the "Good for Train" service Meal Voucher: Info on meal vouchers Another test case for the Strasbourg bus is also in the works. This innovative project aims to provide passengers and staff with more autonomy and comfort, making operations at Frankfurt Airport more efficient and straightforward. 🌟 Big thank you to our project partners at Lufthansa, Fraport AG and Convidera GmbH! #werareFRA #togetherforFRA #FrankfurtAirport #AviationExcellence #AirportFeelingNextLevel #fraalliance #innovation #cooperation #digitization #futureready #Lufthansa #Fraport

Yesterday I had the pleasure of presenting the Airport Service Quality Awards, sponsored by Amadeus, at this year’s ACI World #AirportCX Global Summit in Atlanta, USA.   Firstly, congratulations to this year’s winners who have been recognized for their continued excellence in airport customer experience, defined by the people that matter to us most: travelers. There is much to celebrate. And, on a personal level, I have enjoyed a number of outstanding airport experiences this year. Yet, as I profiled in my keynote at the Summit, it’s clear to me that we all play a significant role in shaping and delivering the best possible experience for travelers.   Today, as industry insiders will know, travel is siloed and highly complex. This can cause friction and disconnection in the traveler journey. So, let’s celebrate airports' achievements in 2024. But as we do, let’s also consider the potential for huge growth and improvement in 2025 and the years ahead by connecting our ecosystem, by connecting the dots in travel.   It’s a challenge we’re rising to at Amadeus for airports and a topic I’ll cover in more depth in future posts.   Until then, congratulations once again to this year’s winners.   #AirportTechnology #PassengerExperience #CustomerExperience #airportcx

Can you imagine yourself in these seats? 💺 Good news!    The new long-haul experience, Lufthansa Allegris will be available on flights from Munich to Chicago, San Francisco, and Shanghai starting 30 March 2025.    More destinations will gradually be added in the coming months.    For more information on booking 👉 link in the comments 👇    #BusinessTravel #LufthansaGroup #LufthansaGroupforBusiness #LufthansaAllegris

From “public transport” via “mobility provider” to “personal freedom of movement” those topics and more were disscused at 🚀 World Passenger Festival ▶ Firstly, and most important: the definition of #multimodality. The European rail community understands the use of train and flight as multimodal travel, there is not a single sharing offer in sight - they need to think beyond the flight! ✈ 🚆 ▶ Secondly, it was very refreshing to hear a different way of dealing with customers: the inspiring inputs on Ruter As's approach how they used customer complaints & social media to get a picture of what their customers need and improve customer journeys, were eye opening. 🛠 👩💼 However, the German speaking countries can score with corporate train travel. 🌍 💼 Companies such as Ikea and co. have their own booking platforms for their employees for business trips that don’t support cooperations with their rail provider. In Austria, ÖBB has already become such a natural part of our lives that we automatically think of train travel for business trips. 🚊 A few new developments to look them up: UK's Uber-Train Voucher and @Wienbox.at von Wiener Stadtwerke GmbH I had an incredible time learning about #innovative solutions around the globe and connecting with industry professionals. #passangerfest #Vienna2024 #Innovation #Networking #FutureOfTransport

eSky Group and LOT Polish Airlines soar to new heights in strategic partnership 💪 #eSky, a leading European #travel platform, and LOT Polish Airlines announce a groundbreaking collaboration, propelling both companies to the forefront of travel innovation — it's about NDC 21.3 “Direct Connect” integration 🚀 For the first time in its history, the largest Polish airline has integrated with an #OTA in this innovative distribution model 🎯 It means #eSkyGroup's customers gain access to LOT's full product portfolio, including a wide variety of fares and additional services! 💬 “This cooperation goes far beyond the technological aspect, being of strategic importance to the companies. Thanks to the strengthened business relationship with the leading airline in the CEE region, we are gaining a competitive advantage. NDC is the future of cooperation between air carriers and travel platforms, as this system ensures reliability and the possibility of personalising offers,” Lukasz Habaj, eSky Group's CEO, admits ☝ He also emphasises that eSky Group aims to use PLL LOT's portfolio to strengthen its #CityBreak and #Holidays packages 🛫🏨: “One of the main advantages of travelling in the Flight&Hotel option is undoubtedly the wide range of destinations and flexibility in the choice of dates. I am sure that our customers will appreciate the dense network of flights offered by LOT, as well as the multitude of additional services that will make exploring the world more comfortable.” #traveltech #dynamipackages #travelpackages #partnership #innovation #technology #tech #distribution #business #partners #businesspartners #onlinetravelagency