by Siew Hoon, Horizons´ master of ceremonies
Couple of key learning points I picked up at the Amadeus Horizons 2008 conference held in Bangkok late last month on travel distribution.
1. It’s about servicing, not selling online
John Lonergan, general manager-direct channels of Qantas, said that online had become more about servicing than selling for his airline. He [...]
by Chris Clarke, event blogger
For me, there was a marked contrast between Horizons 2008 in Bangkok and Horizons 2006 in Dubai.
The last two years have fostered increased confidence across the sector. The relentless focus on cost cutting (not just as good business practice but for business survival) was replaced by a renewed optimism about the [...]
by Chris Clarke, event blogger
I managed to catch up with Leo van Wijk, Vice-Chairman of Air France/KLM and Chairman of the SkyTeam, who provided an interesting perspective on where the market is heading and how global alliances will evolve in the next few years. In this interview he looks at the drivers behind the [...]
by Chris Clarke, event blogger
The theme of the conference Airlines 2.0 was given a futuristic twist by Philippe der Arslanian, Global Director of Airline Direct Channel at Amadeus, with interactive demonstrations of future mobile travel applications and insights into how tomorrows’ travellers will demand more from airlines (see post below). In this interview, he is joined by [...]
Chris Clarke, event blogger
The perspectives shared by some of the world’s leading airlines at Horizons provided valuable insights for delegates. In this interview, Edward Nicol, CIO, Cathay Pacific Airways, talks about the differences between the Asian traveller and those from other regions and the role that technology can play in meetings the different needs of [...]
by Chris Clarke, event blogger
Last week at Horizons, David Doctor presented the Amadeus Airline Retailing Platform (A new way forward in GDS distribution). In the interview attached he talks about what the platform means for airlines and how it is transforming indirect distribution. He also looks at how Amadeus is working with low-cost carriers to [...]
by Chris Clarke, event blogger
Following the introduction of Airlines 2.0 as the theme of the conference (A brave new world?) , we have an interview with Frédéric Spagnou, Vice President Airline Business Group, Amadeus. In it, he talks about how new technologies such as Web 2.0 are empowering customers and how airlines can respond to [...]
by Chris Clarke, event blogger
The Horizons 2008 global forum for airlines in Bangkok is over. Everyone is making their way back home, whether home is Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East or Africa.
It is a good time to reflect on the last couple of days.
I hope you all enjoyed the conference. With [...]
by Chris Clarke, event blogger
Today’s conference offered up many opportunities for discussion.
Airlines 2.0, the theme of the conference, challenged delegates to think about the future. A future which would fundamentally transform the relationship between airlines and customers.
Frederic Spagnou, Vice-President of the Airline Business Group at Amadeus, started the day by painting a picture of the [...]
by Blaise Fiedler, head of strategic commercial services, airline e-commerce, Amadeus
American Airlines’ Charlie Sultan, MD Sales Planning and Analysis, remarks during an interview in February 2008 with Eyefortravel that in the travel business everybody seems to be making money – except the airlines. Travel agencies and airports for instance all seem to be able to achieve [...]
Horizons 2008
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