Pulkovo Airlines switches inventory management, sales and reservation to Amadeus Altéa CMS

Madrid, 8 June 2006: Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry today announced that Pulkovo Airlines, one of the largest airlines in Russia, is now managing all its inventory and route network as well as sales and reservations activity worldwide, on the new generation Altéa Customer Management Solution (CMS).

Only nine months after Pulkovo signed an IT agreement with Amadeus, the airline has replaced its legacy inventory and sales systems with the Altéa Inventory and Reservation solutions. The seamless cutover, completed in a record 10 hours, involved migration of all Pulkovo’s flights and passenger bookings on a weekend. Meticulous planning ensured the airline’s critical business functions were protected throughout the process in order to minimise any possible impact on Pulkovo’s sales activity.

Pulkovo operates 564 flights in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In 2005, it carried close to 3 million passengers. The IT agreement with Amadeus is aimed at supporting the airline’s modernisation and growth strategy. The Altéa solutions open the way for development across the airline’s IT infrastructure and stability in its customer management operations for the long-term. Specifically, Altéa Inventory and Altéa Reservation give Pulkovo complete control over inventory and seat planning, the tools to maximise the yield on every seat and the capacity to drive sales across multiple channels. These consist of the airline’s sales offices and travel agencies, and will be expanded to incorporate online sales.

Commenting on the transition, Pulkovo deputy commercial director, Irina Ostrovskaja, said: “Pulkovo’s migration team would like to thank the Amadeus team for the excellent job which has led us to the successful migration of Pulkovo to Amadeus Altéa.”

Amadeus Vice President, Airline Business Group, Frédéric Spagnou, pointed out that Amadeus’ extensive experience in implementing technology for the airline industry was reflected in the quality of the cutover for Pulkovo. “This project demonstrates our ability to answer critical technology needs in a wide range of market contexts, from the west, south, through to the very promising eastern markets,” he added.

Pulkovo is the second airline in 2006 to cut over to the Altéa platform. South African Airways also transferred its sales and reservation, inventory management and departure control facilities to the Altéa platform in March. The two carriers join twenty two airlines, among them leading players as British Airways and Qantas, which have entrusted their inventories to Amadeus. They also join 150 others that have outsourced their sales and reservations to Amadeus. As a result, Altéa Inventory is today responsible for managing airline inventory representing 95 million passengers boarded per year, a figure which is set to grow to over 500 million passengers boarded in 2010, while Altéa Reservation drives airline multi-channel sales representing 496 million passengers boarded per year.

Altéa Inventory and Altéa Reservation are part of the Amadeus Altéa CMS portfolio which is based on a “community” concept that allows it to be used simultaneously by multiple airlines to boost service to customers, improve operational efficiency and grow revenue. Amadeus Altéa CMS is the first airline customer management solution to be developed in 30 years, replacing legacy airline passenger service systems. By enabling information to be shared in real time between the reservation, inventory and departure control systems, it empowers airlines of all sizes to sweep aside their inflexible legacy technology constrictions and revolutionise the levels of service that can be extended to customers.

Notes to the editors:

About Amadeus
A world-leading technology and distribution solutions provider, Amadeus delivers unparalleled expertise to the travel and tourism industry, including leading-edge solutions that cover airlines’ unique business needs, independent of their size, business model or market reach.

Amadeus’ pioneering new-generation Customer Management Solution (CMS) portfolio, Amadeus Altéa CMS, serves network and regional carriers. The Altéa portfolio, based on a pioneering community platform concept, enables improved operational efficiency and increases revenue. The portfolio consists of the Altéa Reservation, Altéa Inventory and Altéa Departure Control solutions.

Low Cost Carriers have alternative Customer Management Solutions – Amadeus Pioneer CMS and Results CMS by Amadeus - based on adaptive technology that provides robust options that easily adjust to their evolving operational requirements.

Further complimenting these integrated IT solutions is the Amadeus e-Travel Airline Suite that includes the Amadeus e-Retail engine, which powers more than 120 websites of over 60 airlines.

Other standalone IT solutions include: revenue integrity and automatic ticket reissue tools, in addition to full e-ticket interlining and ground-handling management technology services.

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