Athens-based Olympic Air has successfully started its cargo operations with iCargo, IBS’ next-generation air cargo management solution for airlines and airports.
The implementation was completed as planned on 29 September just before the first flight of the new airline took off. With this implementation, Olympic Air is well placed to enhance its cargo volumes, optimise operational costs, increase cargo revenues and profitability and improve customer service and efficiency.
Olympic Air uses iCargoNet, the software as a service (SaaS) version of iCargo, hosted out of IBS’ state-of-the-art data centre at Ashburn, US. Olympic Air, which is using the solution for its domestic and international operations, is the 20th customer of IBS for its iCargo solutions.
Business automation for cargo airlines
IBS’ iCargo solutions are offered in both licensed and hosted models. iCargo addresses all the business automation needs of a cargo carrying airline in a single seamless solution. The solution, built in collaboration with six leading cargo carriers, incorporates comprehensive functionality and industry best practices, making the product globally acceptable. Users of iCargo solutions include leading names in the air cargo industry, such as All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, Nippon Cargo Airways, Qantas Freight, S7 Cargo, SpiceJet and Tokyo International Air Cargo Terminal.
“The decision of Olympic Air to choose our solution rather than go with existing suppliers is an endorsement of the superiority of our solution and the belief in our capability to deliver,” says Akshay Shrivastava, senior vice president and global head of IBS’ cargo line of business. “This cut over is very significant in that Olympic Air needed the entire implementation process to be completed within a period of one month to meet their business deadlines. I am very pleased that we rose to the challenge and successfully completed the project one day before the first flight was to take off.”
Speedy implementation
Shrivastava adds: “These factors underscore the robustness and flexibility of the iCargo solution, and IBS’ responsiveness and ability to build, implement and support sophisticated solutions within scheduled timeframes. We are pleased to be part of the new Olympic Air story. We congratulate the Olympic Air team for the remarkable work they have done in launching the carrier successfully and look forward to continuing to provide genuine value to Olympic Air as a strategic IT partner.”
Olympic Air’s cargo manager Theodore Koronis says: “IBS has proven to be a very valuable partner in implementing our vision for Olympic Air. They have provided us with an efficient tool for launching our cargo services. The fact that IBS has managed to understand our needs and implement their iCargo solution within the extremely demanding timeframe that we required proves that they are a valued partner in our everyday operations. But the most important fact is that apart from gaining the tools to launch our operations, we have gained a significant partner for many years to come. We are looking forward to a very prosperous cooperation with them.”
Olympic Air is a leading Greek airline, borne from the acquisition of the formerly state-owned Olympic Airlines by Marfin Investment Group in 2009. Guided by a new vision, Olympic Air commenced its flight operations on 1 October 2009. The company boasts one of the youngest fleets in Southeastern Europe, comprised of 32 aircraft (16 Airbus A320 and A319, 10 Bombardier DHC8-Q400s, 5 Bombardier DHC8-100s and 1 ATR-42) and operates services to 37 domestic destinations and to 32 international destinations.