United Airlines is modernizing its core infrastructure to ensure critical operations run smoothly and releasing a suite of mobile apps as it accelerates digital transformation. These apps access critical flight information, manage schedules for pilots and crew and keep airline passengers connected and informed during every step of the journey.
DXC is helping United Airlines excel in both areas to ensure the reliability of its critical systems while also building more ambitious applications that propel the airline forward and improve travel experiences.
United Airlines modernizes mainframe infrastructure
United Airlines flies nearly 5,000 planes each day across the globe while carrying around 500,000 passengers. Airlines rely on mainframes to help ensure that people and planes arrive where they are supposed to in the most efficient way possible.
“Modernizing the mainframe is key for us,” said Grant Milstead, VP of digital at United Airlines. “It’s not easy or glamorous work but it’s a big part of unlocking the value we want to create going forward, to continue to scale and grow.”
Mobile apps keep airline passengers constantly connected and informed, giving them greater control over their journey. “I think about mobile apps as kind of a travel concierge in your pocket,” Milstead added. “It’s personalized, it’s contextual and it’s entirely self-service, so our customers have full control over their travel experience.”
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United Airlines makes the ‘connected passenger’ a reality
Providing a seamless, modern customer experience is crucial. United does so through its customer app with features that elevate the passenger experience, including:
- Personal flight info, boarding times, seat assignments.
- Family and friends trip planning.
- Bag drop shortcut to check bags ahead and drop them off.
- Flight-change notifications.
- Real-time baggage tracking.
- Agent-on-demand via talk, text or video chat.
- Digital menu for food service.
DXC’s partnership with United Airlines is an example of how, by taking the right approach to overcoming legacy challenges and embracing modern technologies, an enterprise can maximize the value of existing investments while building IT environments that are more agile, cost-effective and designed for future innovation and a customer-first mindset, according to DXC.
Aviation is embracing digital transformation
The aviation industry is embracing digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. “Airports are seeking to increase passenger satisfaction by tracking passenger flow and waiting times,” said Tom Fairbairn, distinguished engineer at Solace. “Staffing can be allocated to relieve bottlenecks as they occur and information provided to transport providers, say taxis, that high passenger demand is about to occur.”
Beyond improving general system efficiency, an event-driven integration strategy can also enhance communication and coordination between pilots, air traffic control, ground staff, passengers and third party service providers, he added. “By enabling instant updates and automated decision-making, airlines can respond rapidly to changing conditions, optimize traffic management and improve overall system autonomy.”
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