Enhanced platform unifies the travel ecosystem, bringing new revenue opportunities to airlines by focusing on the complete passenger journey.

APEX EXPO, Boston MA | September 24, 2018– Guestlogix, a leading travel technology company that inspires and delivers better journeys, has introduced new platform features that bring unification to today’s fragmented passenger experience. Built around the Traveler and Crew Experience, the new features are an industry first and offer the best of B2B and B2C travel technology, helping airlines and other travel brands streamline products and services for their customers, inflight, through destination and back home.

“The connected traveler wants a seamless, end-to-end experience regardless of what airline they fly, what airport they use or what hotel they stay at,” said Robin Hopper, President of Guestlogix. “Our platform delivers this experience to travelers and helps airlines more effectively manage revenue, loyalty and customer relationships in today’s highly fragmented travel environment.”

Winning Over the Connected Traveler 
Today’s travelers have a “what I want, when I want it” mentality – and why not, when they can hire a private car service for a few dollars, right from their mobile phones, or take a trip around the world on a low-cost carrier. But most traditional travel merchandising platforms lack the crucial element of customer-centricity, even as airlines want to position their passenger-facing apps as delivery mechanisms for convenience and delight.

Airlines and other travel brands need a new solution to meet their customers’ expectations, one that provides concierge-level service to the connected traveler. This means empowering passengers to use the app anytime, anywhere and for anything – booking flights and hotels, shopping at the airport, ordering limo service upon arrival, and using their loyalty points and miles as currency.  It also means using available customer data to create personalized, localized and curated experiences.

The Guestlogix platform makes all this possible, helping airlines make sure they are “always there” for passengers pre-, during- and post-trip.

Platform Features and Capabilities
With a Traveler and Crew Experience app and robust backend tools for retail success, personalization and campaign management, the enhanced Guestlogix platform comes with everything an airline could possibly need to captivate today’s connected traveler and deliver better journeys.

The platform’s features and capabilities include:

• Traveler and Crew Experience app for inflight sales and beyond
• Inflight and travel retail solutions for sales and fulfillment in the air and on the ground
• Travel analytics helping airlines get to know the individual behind the booking
• Personalization and campaign management tools for smarter campaigns and customized offers

“The connected traveler is the future not only for our product roadmap but for the travel industry as a whole,” said Robin Hopper. “We can help airlines get to where they need to be as retailers throughout the travel journey, while making their customers happier with personalization and experience curation.”

For more information about the company’s travel platform or to speak with Guestlogix President Robin Hopper, please contact Vanessa Horwell at +1.305.749.5342 x 232 or vhorwell@thinkinkpr.com.

Guestlogix, Creating Solutions for Better Journeys
Guestlogix builds travel technologies that inspire and deliver better journeys. The company was founded over 10 years ago, helping airlines around the world transform the way travellers purchased onboard. Today, Guestlogix provides a comprehensive platform that connects the entire travel ecosystem, giving passengers and crew a go-to app to enhance travel and airlines significant new revenue streams and loyalty opportunities inflight, through destination and back home. The Guestlogix head office is located in Toronto, Canada with skilled teams in the USA and UK who empower over 25 airline and transportation customers across the globe. Visit www.guestlogix.comto learn more.

France | July 31, 2018– Airbus has released an Android version* of the iflyA380 app, already available for iOS users, bringing the experience of flying on the iconic A380 to even more passengers.

In recent years, new technological advances have transformed the expectations of always-connected travellers who demand super convenience, personalization and speed of use in every aspect of their travel booking. So far, travellers have been able to control every aspect of their trip, except for one of the most important elements – the plane they fly in.

The popular iflyA380.com booking assistant has changed this by offering travellers a unique platform to search and book flights on the A380, the passengers’ favourite jetliner. Building on the website’s success – millions of visitors since launch in 2016 – the iflyA380 app, launched in March 2018 for iOS users, brings more features and content to smartphone users who have downloaded the app over 40,000 times in less than 6 months.

A web platform and a mobile app that enhance the A380 experience

All destinations and prices are one click away and can be viewed on this useful map.

Travellers will also enjoy a wide range of exclusive innovative services linked to the A380, including:

•  The option to explore destinations based on geolocation and personal interests.
•  Cabin discovery in Virtual Reality.
•  A connected and immersive in-flight experience based on an Augmented Reality (AR) feature.

To try for yourself, head to the Play Store here. The app searches 30+ available airlines that fly the double-decker A380 and provides a booking service. With the AR feature, passengers can take a virtual tour of the cabin, get a sneak peek into the cockpit, and explore their destination airport.

 

Smart travellers choose the A380

What makes a flight special? Surely it’s feeling that your comfort matters, that your well-being matters. That you matter. A380 customers are smart travellers with the highest expectations. Rest assured, with the A380 no detail will be overlooked, whether you’re traveling first class, business class or economy. The very best airlines operate the A380, so every time you choose to fly our plane, you know they will take extra special care of you.

Airbus is empowering travellers to travel as smartly as possible. The Fly Smart hub contains tips, advice and information to make the most of your flight on one of the 228** A380 in service, whatever class of travel you choose, and whether you’re traveling for business or looking forward to your next leisure trip. So Choose. Fly. Love A380.

SITA enables Miami Airport app users to quickly tap and clear immigration and customs

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the first airport in the world to bring the convenience of Mobile Passport Control, the fast entry process into the USA, into its own airport app experience. US citizens and Canadian visitors arriving into Miami can now use the MIA Airport Official app to submit details to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and simply receive a barcode on their phone to present for clearance.

This convenient service, developed by global air transport IT provider SITA and certified by US CBP for Mobile Passport Control, speeds up the entry process into the USA. As an integral part of MIA’s official app, the new mobile service builds on the personal travel assistant experience already being offered to Miami’s passengers.

“The goal of our mobile app has always been to put as many services as possible in the palm of the traveler’s hand,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. “Now, with the help of SITA’s innovative technology, in addition to easily finding your way to all you need at MIA, North American passengers can now also breeze through passport control with the same customer-friendly travel app.”

Miami International Airport offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other US airport. It is America’s third-busiest airport for international passengers, with more than half of its 44.6 million passengers on international travel.

SITA offers the service as an SDK (software development kit). The SDK has been authorized by CBP for airports, airlines and other travel app providers to incorporate the entry process into their own mobile app.

Randy Pizzi, SITA President, Americas, said: “We are very pleased to be a technology partner with MIA as they become the first to incorporate the convenience of US CBP Mobile Passport Control into their airport application. Passenger satisfaction increases when technology solutions, like SITA’s, make it easy for passengers to manage their journey using just one convenient application on their own smartphone or tablet.”

SITA’s innovative design ensures the CBP requirements are met, which reduces the certification process for app developers. It enables eligible travelers to use an airport or airline’s app on their mobile device to submit their passport information and answer CBP inspection-related questions prior to CBP inspection. The convenient service does not require pre-approval and is free to use.

Today the SDK from SITA is available to any international airport in the USA or any airline flying passengers to the USA. SITA is also in discussions with other governments who are looking to digitize their landing card, customs and border clearance procedures. Providing such services via mobile devices enables direct communication with travelers which supports secure pre-clearance and helps streamline the passenger journey.

Recently shortlisted finalist for the Crystal Cabin Awards and operative since the 16th of January in its first long haul flights, Immfly, branded as XL Cloud, has already welcomed more than 30.000 new users flying onboard XL’s A-330 fleet

Barcelona, Spain | February 13, 2017– “Connect to XL CLoud and Kiss Boredom Goodbye” – that’s how the new XL entertainment platform is introduced to its passengers. Since beginnings of 2017, Paris-based XL Airways is upgrading the inflight experience with Immfly’s wireless platform, available on routes to the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the US. Passengers that fly with XL Cloud can access the platform using their personal electronic devices via the app – available to download for free prior to the flight – or web. Once in the platform, they can browse through a large selection of movies, TV Shows, newsfeeds, magazines, kids channels and travel guides, among others. The frequently renewed catalogue, which is available in English and French, includes free content and a Premium offer, available for 9.95€ per flight, or for 15€ when renting an ipad Mini onboard provided by a third company.

XL Airways is the first airline to launch Immfly’s entertainment digital solution on long haul flights.“The platform’ scalability played a major role in the decision process, it’s the power of the Cloud”, says Vincent Tomasoni, XL’s Product Marketing Manager. “Offering XL Cloud marks the completion of a major project destined to improve customer experience through breakthrough technologies. We chose Immfly’s pioneering solution as a key player to help us make this possible and reach the milestone of becoming the First French airline to offer streaming entertainment”.

Pablo Linz, cofounder of the Spanish based company, Immfly, stated that “Making our product ready for long- distance aircraft has encouraged a significant growth opportunity for our product. We are now exposed to a higher volume of passengers who have an average of 10 hours to enjoy our content, and as part of our ambition to continuously improve the passenger experience, we have developed new product features such as a games channel and an onboard chat. Certainly, the user metrics collected until now reaffirm the success of the project”.

Immfly, which will be exhibiting at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg and attending the Crystal Cabin Awards Ceremony, continues to get closer to its objective of becoming the travel industry’s favourite on-board monetization partner, reaching 100 million connected passengers by 2018.

 

Australia | September 22, 2016– At this year’s Apex Expo, the Stellar Entertainment team will be launching its new, industry-first product, pixL™.

The product of several years of development at Stellar’s facilities throughout Asia and the U.S., pixL™ is a modern web app, providing airlines with a comprehensive ecosystem of entertainment. pixL™ acts as a ‘one-stop-shop’, where an airline can review all available content, view trailers, read reviews and explore data analytics about passenger usage on IFE systems across their fleet.

pixL™ has millions of listings, complete with language and subtitle options and availability information from the major Hollywood labs. pixL™ handles purchase orders, music streaming, catalog management, preview screening and budgets.

Says Rob Lynch, Chairman of the Stellar Group, “pixL™ is unique to Stellar and is a big leap forward in the monthly content shortlisting and management process of our industry. With pixL™, an airline has choice and control over its content in a way that has never been possible before.

pixL™ is the tool for the future of the airline entertainment content industry.”

To make an appointment at Stellar’s booth #1215, contact info@stellargroup.com.

• Lufthansa Systems releases a new generation of its navigation app for iOS

Raunheim, Germany | September 6, 2016– Lufthansa Systems today announced the release of Lido/mPilot 2.0, a comprehensive update to its successful navigation app for the iPad. The new-generation app features a more modern design, faster loading times, better performance and a Bluetooth connection to flight deck avionics systems. Existing customers can download Lido/mPilot 2.0 from the App Store and update their systems from September 2016.

“The trend toward mobile solutions for a paperless flight deck and greater flexibility for pilots and airlines shows no sign of slowing down,” said Igor Dimnik, Director Products at Lufthansa Systems. “With our new Lido/mPilot 2.0 app, we are taking another step in the direction of connectivity on the flight deck. Our outstanding cooperation with industry partners enables us to offer airlines comprehensive, integrated solutions.”

Lufthansa Systems worked with UTC Aerospace Systems and their products to turn an iPad installed with Lido/mPilot 2.0 into a full-fledged Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system. Using a UTC Aerospace Systems Tablet Interface Module®, which has a Bluetooth connection, the iPad is linked to the company’s Aircraft Interface Device (AID) which enables data management. This will provide access to relevant avionics data such as GPS information, and the aircraft’s speed and heading. Together the hardware and software will facilitate navigation and contribute to improved situational awareness for pilots.

Lido/mPilot 2.0 also reduces the workload for pilots. Before a flight, one of the pilots selects the airport maps and route and stores them on his or her device. Thanks to a new import function, the other pilot can then import this data directly to his own iPad without having to repeat the procedure. This simplifies the administrative processes and frees up pilots for more important tasks.

The user interface was completely overhauled for the update in accordance with Google’s Material Design principles. This gives users the benefit of a more modern and intuitive app design with a familiar, uniform look which can be used across all platforms. This design concept will also be applied to the Windows-based Lido/eRouteManual app very soon. The new Lido/mPilot 2.0 additionally offers faster, better performance and much shorter start-up loading times.

Around 70 airlines have already opted for the mobile Lido/mPilot navigation solution since the app was launched in early 2015. The modular app offers features such as airport charts, a dynamically generated enroute map and a document management and distribution system that enables pilots to access documents and messages both at home and on the move. A status overview with intuitive icons guarantees a clear flow of information.

• Cambodian carrier Sky Angkor Airlines opts for mobile navigation charts

Raunheim, Germany | August 31, 2016– Lufthansa Systems today announced that Sky Angkor Airlines has opted for its Lido/mPilot mobile navigation solution as well as the paper-based charts of Lido/RouteManual. The two companies signed a five-year contract for the solution at the start of this year. Lido/RouteManual is already in use, the mobile navigation solution will be operational this fall.

“We were convinced by the comprehensive functionality of the Lido/mPilot navigation app, and by its reliability,” said Captain Gorazd Cerne, Training Manager at Sky Angkor Airlines. “By selecting Lufthansa Systems, we have opted for a new IT solution providing us the content and function we need by a reasonable price. We look forward to developing our successful partnership together with Lufthansa Systems.”

Lido/mPilot is a mobile navigation solution which supports pilots before, during and after a flight. Around 60 airlines have already decided to deploy Lido/mPilot since the app was launched in early 2015. The modular app offers features such as airport maps, a dynamically generated enroute chart, and a document management and distribution system that enables pilots to access documents and messages both at home and on the move.

Layout, colors and symbols are identical in the charts´ paper and electronic versions. They comprise navigation charts for take-off and landing procedures as well as airport and route charts including all important route information like altitude and airport data. These charts are generated directly from the Lido navigation database, which includes worldwide aeronautical information and topographical data.

“We are delighted to have Sky Angkor Airlines as a new customer in the Asia/Pacific region. This agreement also highlights the growing importance of digitization in the airline industry,” said Tom Vandendael, Senior Vice President Regional Management Asia/Pacific.

Sky Angkor Airlines is a regional Asian carrier based at Siem Reap International Airport in Cambodia. Established in 2011, the airline has a fleet of five aircraft serving destinations in several countries including Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam.

• Automatic advance security checks now being run on all passengers exiting Australia

Sydney, Australia | April 7, 2016– Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (the Department) is now running automated checks on all passengers departing the country. The Outward Advance Passenger Processing (APP) program uses iBorders® from SITA, the global provider of border security and IT solutions to governments, airlines and airports. SITA’s iBorders system provides real-time, integration between the airlines’ systems and the Department’s border management systems.

Outward APP, which provides interactive advanced passenger information (i-API), was put in place following legislation enacted by the Australian Government to help improve Australia’s border integrity and national security. As part of these measures, airlines are required to provide data for all travellers departing Australia in advance of their flight. The airline transmits each passenger’s data to the Department during check-in, receiving in response a ‘board’/’no board’ message in real-time. Passengers who are pre-cleared for departure through this process are allowed to quickly self-process through passport control by using the SmartGate in Australia’s international airports.

In addition to providing a more streamlined departure process using automated e-gates, the process also facilitates the identification of passengers who may be a security concern ahead of departure. SITA’s iBorders enables the Department to receive passenger data from the airlines with enough time to pre-process travellers before they arrive at the border.

John Gibbon, Assistant Secretary Traveller Branch at the Department, said: “Outward APP delivers a faster and more seamless experience for travellers, while meeting our business needs to manage threats and ensure the integrity of Australia’s border.”

SITA’s work with the Department started as a trial with a limited number of airlines. Full implementation coincided with the commencement of the Foreign Fighters legislation amendments and today the Outward APP program includes all airlines and all flights out of Australia. In total, 47 airlines are now fully certified and running around two million transactions a month through the Australian Outward APP program powered by iBorders.

Ilya Gutlin, SITA President, Asia Pacific, said: “Australia has long been recognized as a leader and innovator in the area of border management. This sophisticated Outward APP program builds on the existing solutions that SITA has been providing to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection since 2000, when the country geared up for the influx of arrivals for the Olympic Games. Working in sync with the airlines, Australia now runs advance, automatic checks on every passenger arriving or departing the country, making the journey smoother for authorized travellers while addressing issues with persons of interest.”

Around 30 governments globally use SITA’s iBorders® systems and capabilities to keep their borders secure and transform their border security operations.

London, United Kingdom | April 4, 2016– Mezzoglobal is now offering a fully featured, low-cost wireless passenger entertainment app for travel operators such as airlines, coach and bus operators, train companies, cruise operators and ferry lines. It is available for both iOS and Android and can be configured to work on any hardware. The app also offers a video on demand (VOD) option that passengers can use at any time they are connected to the internet. The app allows passengers to use their own mobiles and smartphones to view content such as movies and TV, listen to music and other audio, and to read magazines and other literature.

As well supporting video, audio and digital publications, the Mezzoglobal app provides many features that are familiar on an installed system, such as passenger interrupt, system control from a mobile crew device, passenger crew call, integrations for social media and many more. In addition, the app also enables content to be used when not connected to the on-board servers by using the VOD option.

Perhaps the most important feature is that the app can be customised to work on any hardware. Dave Sampson, CEO of Mezzoglobal, says, “It is no longer necessary for airlines and travel operators to think that they have to buy both hardware and software from one vendor. Technology has reached a point where a “pick ‘n’ mix” model of hardware and software will offer the best commercial models and best meet airlines’ and other travel operators’ needs. The Mezzoglobal app can be easily customised to fit on any hardware, whether it is portable hardware or installed. For example, airlines that have already purchased hardware no longer need to rip that hardware out and throw it away. They can simply replace the software and support service with a more competitive, better featured and lower cost proposition.”

Sampson added, “Our Android and iOS app offers airlines and travel operators much greater flexibility; content can be streamed on board, streamed on the ground from local servers in the lounge or in the airport before the flight, or the passenger can be offered content to download. Digital solutions offer much greater flexibility and we have matched this with extremely low licence fees. Of the 20,000 aircraft flying today, only 30% have any form of in-flight entertainment (IFE) and you have to ask what has been the barrier to greater adoption. I believe it is mostly because of the super-premium prices that are charged for IFE systems. We are out to change this; we want IFE to be ubiquitous.”

The app can be downloaded from the relevant app store:
Android
iOS

The Mezzoglobal app is already linked to the new ContentMarket.place that has just launched, and which is the newest way to licence content for all passenger entertainment.

• OnAir Wi-Fi is now even simpler to use

Aircraft Interiors Middle East, Dubai | February 2, 2015– SAUDIA has become the first airline to develop and provide passengers with a dedicated mobile phone application for free inflight Wi-Fi. Passengers simply scan their ticket’s bar code for free Wi-Fi access.

All of SAUDIA’s First class and Business passengers flying on the airline’s A330s and B777-300s on international routes receive a promotional code when they scan their Boarding Passes via the mobile application. They then use the code to access their free Wi-Fi on the OnAir portal.

“Our new app makes it as simple as possible for passengers to access the Internet by just using the Boarding Passes in their pocket,” said Mr. Abdulrahman H Alfahad, VP Marketing & Product Management at SAUDIA. “We know just how much passengers value being in touch on email and social media. We like to keep Saudi Arabia’s 7.8 million Facebook users connected when they fly.”

The mobile application is the easiest and most efficient distribution channel for free inflight Wi-Fi codes to date. Passengers download the app from Apple store and soon on Android devices.

Saudi Arabians are the most prolific users of the Internet via their smartphones in the Middle East. In 2014, 8.5 million people used the internet. Saudi Arabia’s smartphone penetration rate of 72.8% also places it in the world’s top three countries. In 2014, 35,000 SAUDIA passengers used the free Wi-Fi, a number which will certainly be enhanced by this mobile app.

“More and more airlines are providing free Wi-Fi as an integral part of the passenger experience and SAUDIA is the first to provide a specific app for inflight connectivity,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of SITA OnAir. “This is the right response to passenger demand. Airlines are developing new and innovative ways to differentiate their connectivity, particularly since Wi-Fi and mobile phone services become commoditized in the air, as they already are on the ground.”