WestJet partners with Cendant on New Passenger Services System

Today at the World Low Cost Airlines Congress 2005 in Amsterdam, Cendant Travel Distribution Services (TDS), and WestJet, a leading Canadian low-fare carrier, announced a multi-year agreement that will provide WestJet with Cendant TDS’ next-generation Passenger Services System (PSS), aiRES. WestJet is the launch customer for the new airline reservation platform, and is serving as a co-development partner to ensure that aiRES offers industry leading features and functionality. This new technology will replace WestJet’s current reservation, scheduling and check-in systems.

aiRES is an innovative, customizable new passenger services platform designed to replace less flexible, more expensive, older legacy airline ‘hosting’ systems. Built on proven new technology and designed with an open, multi-layered modular architecture, aiRES provides the utmost flexibility by enabling business model changes without making major changes directly to the software. The system supports features such as distributed inventory management, a customer centric booking process facilitated by customer profile data, and fully configurable business process parameters. In addition, aiRES can enable airlines to integrate their distribution channels with other travel services. This architecture could, for example, allow a customer returning a rental car at the airport to simultaneously receive an airline boarding pass, or while checking in at an airport kiosk, customers can book a hotel or make dinner reservations at a local restaurant.

aiRES is being jointly brought to market through a business alliance between Cendant TDS and IBS Software Services, a leader in software solutions and services to the global travel, transportation and logistics industries. The alliance, which attributes the primary responsibility for product development and support to IBS, and the primary responsibility for product management, sales, marketing, and customer relationships to Cendant TDS, was announced in August 2004.

“We’ve worked closely with Cendant and IBS to develop an integrated system that will provide WestJet with innovative, industry-leading technology that will enable WestJet to continue to have a competitive advantage,” said Don Bell, executive vice president, WestJet. “aiRES’ open architecture and flexibility will allow WestJet to more effectively implement change and quickly respond to market conditions. Over the past year, our teams have worked together to ensure that WestJet had the right foundation for success in executing against our business strategy, and the tools to be able to respond to changing market and competitive conditions. Cendant and IBS have been able to deliver based on our unique needs, and we’re excited about the future opportunities that await us.”

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