easyJet adopts solution for more reliable flight schedules

Amadeus and Optym announced that easyJet has chosen the advanced network simulation solution, Amadeus SkySYM by Optym, to improve the reliability of its flight schedules.

There are many factors that airlines must consider when planning schedules — a complex feat that networks must work on to reduce costs and improve the passenger experience. Optimisation creates a major impact on scheduling while unlocking millions of dollars when it comes to incremental revenue.

The Amadeus SkySYM by Optym solution will enable easyJet to build more reliable flight schedules by reducing flight delays and improve on-time performance (OTP).

“Everything is impossible until somebody does it”

Renzo Vaccari, VP of airline solutions for Optym, commented: “Every airline wants to build optimal flight schedules that will both maximise profits and be more reliable. Our results show that the system predicts on-time performance indicators with greater than 95% accuracy and improves OTP by up to 4%, with minimal impact to network profits. Everything is impossible until somebody does it.”

In 2016, Amadeus and Optym formed a partnership to create a solution that combines Amadeus’ advanced technical expertise with Optym’s network planning and scheduling suite. The Amadeus SkySYM by Optym is one of five solutions that were created to offer network planning and scheduling benefits to airlines.

SkySYM is the only technology in the market that can simulate airline schedules in the planning stage to improve schedule reliability and ensure smooth operations on the actual day of the flight. It works by simulating planned schedules under real-world conditions by modelling factors such as aircraft and passenger flows, maintenance activities, air traffic control events, weather patterns, and crew and baggage delays.

“We will work closely together with the airline”

Manuel Midon, head of airlines, Northern and Western Europe at Amadeus, said: “We will work closely together with the airline during the implementation of the solution, which can contribute to providing an even better customer experience and increasing incremental revenue at the same time. This signature shows how Amadeus understands our customer’s needs, irrespective of the size or type of the carrier, and can help them meet business goals with our solutions.”

For easyJet, one of Europe’s leading airlines which services more than 83 million passengers annually, the solution will continue to drive its OTP through modelling and prediction, while allowing the airline to experiment with new schedules.

Andrew Salt, network optimisation manager at easyJet, said: “SkySYM is a well-developed, mature product that meets the needs of the network and schedule planning team at easyJet and we are delighted to develop our partnership with Optym and Amadeus with this product. We are confident that it will drive significant value to our business, whilst maintaining and enhancing the quality of our schedules for our customers.”