On the lookout: According to industry reports, many airlines are seeking technology-based solutions that will help them control costs, enhance competitiveness and customer satisfaction, either by improving business processes or introducing new services

Datalink helped perpetuate critical, automated, real-time messaging between the flight crew and air traffic control, thus reducing workload and improving data integrity. Since then, the use of technology as an integral part of airline operations grew in significance as the industry developed and air travel became more prevalent.

Today, more than 30 years later, aviation technology is still the key driver in helping aviation companies achieve operational efficiency, and in some areas, greater profitability.

According to industry reports, many airlines are seeking technology-based solutions that will help them control costs, enhance competitiveness and customer satisfaction, either by improving business processes or introducing new services. To this end, many airlines are considering, or have implemented new applications such as mobile-based passenger services, broadband-based in-flight services and remote check-in.

Other adoption drivers of aviation technology include industry-based programmes such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA's) Simplifying the Business (STB) initiative that aims to attain better aviation standards and deliver cost savings with the use of technology. The STB electronic ticketing programme has helped the industry realise up to US$3 billion a year in savings and provided greater convenience for passengers who no longer have to worry about losing tickets and can make changes to itineraries more easily.

Airlines are seeking technology-based solutions to control costs, enhance competitiveness and customer satisfaction, either by improving business processes or introducing new services.

The aviation industry is constantly evolving and changing, and the last few years have been one of the most turbulent, particularly with the impact of the global economic crisis and the emergence of new security threats amid rising passenger volumes. In response to this, the role of technology has also been transformed and moved into new areas such as aviation security and electronic borders. That's where technology is used to automatically screen passengers, resulting in higher accuracy and faster response times in identifying individuals from a watch list. Security threats are getting more sophisticated and the challenge for aviation companies is keeping one step ahead to minimise any risk of attack.

Moving forward, how do we see technology evolving in the future?

From an economic standpoint, airlines are constantly looking at ways to maximise profitability and improve operational efficiency, even more so now that IATA's recent outlook stated that the airline sector would lose US$5.6 billion on a net basis in 2010, compared to its previous forecast for a US$3.8 billion loss.

Second, airlines still need to remain competitive and the role of technology will be to create service differentials and enhance business processes to constantly excite the market and meet passenger demands.

Third, from a regulatory standpoint, organisations like IATA will continue to introduce new initiatives (such as the Fast Travel Programme) and work with the industry closely to identify areas where technology can help save cost and simplify processes.

As a result of these industry drivers, technology partners are focused on building a migration path from the legacy systems created in the past to newer and more efficient technologies, minimising the need for abandoning the industry's existing investments. In addition, with the industry migrating to more open technologies, improved access to more information and decision support for operations will result.

Lastly, as passenger and flight operations data becomes more accessible, new applications for the industry and its passengers will enable further improvements in safety, security and convenience.

The writer is Managing Director, ARINC Asia Pacific Division Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC), established in 1929, is a major provider of transport communications and systems engineering solutions for eight industries: (aviation, airports, defence, government, healthcare, networks, security, and transportation). ARINC is owned by the Carlyle Group, which acquired the company in October 2007, and is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland