British Airways to save millions with airfare tracking

British Airways has found a way to save more than £4.5m in the first year by utilizing an airfare analysis tool from Sita - an aviation technology company.

The analysis tool allows the airline to track current airfares in the market and make immediate changes to its own fares and thus increasing their competitiveness with other airlines.

According to Jerry Foran, British Airways senior manager of revenue management, BA will save at least £1.5m through decommissioning legacy systems and be able to perform a comprehensive ticket audit process leading to a 10 percent increase in audit quality - and generating a saving of £3m a year.

Tthe Sita airfare product processes and displays important competitor price changes allowing BA to respond quickly through whatever distribution channel it chooses. Foran said British Airways can then make the best fares available faster and more effectively than the competition.

Research by Sita shows that more than 200 million fares are published globally at any one time and will be updated several times a day. Their analysis programme will scan and filter through these fares as updates occur.

BA believes this programme will help to simplify the business management of more than a million fares they publish each year and make the airline more competitive against fares from other major airlines. The airline states they should generate £4.5m a year in savings in the first year will increase each year thereafter, making it a sound and profitable investment.

www.britishairways.com