Three Questions, with Amadeus’ Ilia Kostov

In the latest installment in our popular 3Q series, TMR asked three questions of Amadeus North America’s Ilia Kostov, chief commercial officer for airline IT. Here’s the scoop:  

Q: What are the latest trends in airline technology for 2016?
2016 will be all about taking a “customer-first” approach in finding new ways to enhance the traveler experience. Throughout the entire travel ecosystem, companies are looking to improve the journey for passengers through merchandizing, greater personalization, advanced mobile offerings, and partner collaborations.? Personalization, such as more relevant offers to the traveler’s delight, and adding more value to the passenger, should result in more revenues for the travel provider. 

Q: What opportunities are airlines focusing on “below the wing?”
Airlines are focusing on reducing costs, streamlining their processes, and increasing their overall productivity. One area “below the wing” where this is possible is in their load-planning operations, which enable airlines to drive significant savings and efficiencies. For example, based on what our airline customers have experienced, we would expect the average carrier to save $3 million to $6 million a year. 

Q: What does it all mean for travel agents (and travelers)?
Travel agencies who know their customers well will be able to seamlessly offer the most suitable travel content, such as the most relevant fare family to each individual traveler for their specific trip. 

With greater transparency, more operational efficiencies, and access to airline content, passengers can expect fewer flight delays and more seamless travel experiences. As technology evolves and travel companies (especially airlines and travel agencies) look to incorporate next-generation systems and solutions, we will begin to see a greater number of changes designed to further streamline each stage of the traveler journey.