A combined effort by Irish travel technology firm Datalex and global IT outsourcing giant EDS has resulted in both firms securing a contract to build a loyalty system for Loyalty Gate, a consortium of global airlines.
Loyalty Gate operates the frequent flyer programmes of its member airlines Swiss International Airlines, SN Brussels Airlines and TAP Air Portugal.
The project will see the implementation of the Datalex Internet booking platform to provide frequent flyer programme members with web browser access to the airline seat inventory, which will be hosted on the EDS axsRes reservation system. This will enable members of the loyalty scheme to be able to display flight schedules, search for qualifying airline seats, reserve award flights and pay for these seats using their miles to display their existing award bookings.
Datalex is also working with EDS on a number of other projects under the reseller agreement that is expected to generate additional business over the coming year. The agreement between both companies is to offer a proposition whereby airlines can achieve more cost efficiency as the industry recovers.
Damian Hickey, senior vice president of business development at Datalex says: “Loyalty programmes are an important part of the framework in maintaining the relationship between an airline and its flyers and can open up new business opportunities for the airline. The internet provides the ideal platform to integrate loyalty systems with passenger reservation and baggage systems and enables interactive, cost-efficient links between airlines, their alliances and their entire fare distribution network.
“EDS and Datalex both have long track records in serving the airline industry. Combining the technology expertise of Datalex with the implementation, business engineering and operational experience of EDS, creates a winning environment in which to deliver innovative IT solutions to this sector,” Hickey said.
By John Kennedy
