DAY ONE - TUESDAY 23 RD FEBRUARY, 2016

 

Air Retail, Tuesday 23 February 2016

OPENING KEYNOTE PLENARY SESSION

08:45

Organiser’s opening remarks

Mr Shakeel Adam
08:50

Chairperson’s opening remarks

Mr Shakeel Adam, Managing Director, Aviado Partners Consulting GmbH
Mr Cam Wallace
09:00

Vision 2020: How can airlines guarantee future success?

Join us for this exclusive interview, where a leader of a major airline outlines what it takes to succeed, and how they are planning to keep succeeding as the industry continues to ‘fly’ forward. Find out how they think disruptive technology and start-ups will keep changing the face of our industry, and their perspective on what air travel will be like in the near and long-term.
Interviewee: Mr Cam Wallace, Chief Sales & Commercial Officer, Air New Zealand
Interviewer: Mr Shakeel Adam, Managing Director, Aviado Partners Consulting GmbH
Panel discussion
09:20

Aviation Leaders Panel: Looking to 2016 and beyond

Our Aviation Leaders Panel returns in 2016, following the amazing reception at our 2015 event. Join some of the industry’s best and brightest as they debate the biggest challenges facing the air travel industry in Asia and beyond. Key areas that will be addressed include:
  • Current trends and outlook for the future of air travel
  • Factors that drive profitability and factors that slow down the industry
  • How can we as an individual airline and as an entire industry innovate ourselves?
  • Market dynamics, business models, customer proposition, global network and scalability
Moderator: Mr Shakeel Adam, Managing Director, Aviado Partners Consulting GmbH
Robert Carey, Principal, McKinsey & Company
Mr Cam Wallace, Chief Sales & Commercial Officer, Air New Zealand
Vinay Dube, Senior Vice President - Asia Pacific, Delta Air Lines
Mr Juha Järvinen, Senior Vice President – Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair
Benedict Hayes
10:20

Turning clicks into tickets: Personalised advertising for airlines

Where to? How soon? Leisure or business? For how much? Each flyer has travel preferences that are expressed from the moment they make the first search on your website. Join this session to learn how some of the world’s leading international airlines are turning real-time search data into personalised advertising that drives e-commerce and mobile sales. 
Benedict Hayes, Managing Director, South East Asia and India, Sociomantic Labs
10:40

Exhibition Visit, Networking & Refreshments

John Garner
Air Retail

Chairperson

John Garner, Deputy Chairman, DFASS (Singapore) Pte Ltd

PAYMENT & TECHNOLOGIES

Andrew Cowen
Air Retail
11:40

New trends & disruptive technology in ancillary revenue generation: HK Express’ contactless in-flight payment

  • How HK Express is deploying Octopus Card to provide convenient inflight shopping and dining
  • Looking into the future, which channel will generate the most ancillary revenue and what’s the next big disruptor that will change the game?
Andrew Cowen, Chief Executive Officer, HK Express
Rob Zazueta
Air Retail
12:00

The travel industry’s journey to customer satisfaction – One API at a time

There is a huge range of choices now available at every stage of the process, from last-minute online bookings to smartphone apps that cater to unique needs. The reservations systems for airlines, hotels, and other service providers are integrated in a myriad of ways, and aggregators such as online travel agencies (OTAs) offer impartial options to every traveller. These ingredients are exactly what make for a cocktail of customer satisfaction and vendor profit. So why isn’t this happening in the travel industry?
Rob Zazueta, Director of Digital Strategy, TIBCO Software
Pacino Qin
Air Retail
12:20

Real time payments: Combating fraud risk in the air

How Hong Kong Airlines is deploying new payments technology to prevent fraudulent in-flight purchases
Pacino Qin, Head of Ancillary Revenue and Head of Hong Kong Airlines Holidays, Hong Kong Airlines
Linus Goh
Air Retail
12:40

The future of travel payments

The way we purchase and pay for travel is changing. Find out how the ways we book, when we book and what we book are driving payment innovation. In this session, discover how virtual reality, wearables, geo-location and personalisation are enabling new travel purchasing behaviour. Explore how your payment eco-system can enable a seamless experience in this new world and look into the omni-channel payment world with examples from across the travel sector.
Linus Goh, Business Development Director, WorldPay
13:00

Networking Lunch & Exhibition Visit

E-COMMERCE

Patrick F. Poetzsch
Air Retail
14:30

Lufthansa’s DCC: Directing a new era of distribution

  • How Lufthansa’s Distribution Cost Charge (DCC) is shifting the distribution paradigm? Why now? And why move first?
  • How it actually works to drive more direct sales and rebuild brand loyalty
  • What the future holds for GDS
Patrick F. Poetzsch, Head of Automated Sales, Product & Programs, Lufthansa German Airlines
Otto Gergye
Air Retail
14:50

Realising significant profit opportunities through e-commerce

  • Blending the airline and ‘etailer’ mentality
  • Maximising pre-flight revenues: Run a good pre-buy programme
  • Bringing airline retail into the modern world of omni-channel shopping
  • Cross-selling and upselling opportunities: Making the most of your existing customer base
Otto Gergye, Former Senior Vice President Global Sales, airberlin
Panel discussion
Air Retail
15:10

Next generation merchandising: What we need to know to set out on growth

Simply put, merchandising is about providing the right product and service to the traveller, delivered through the right channel, and at the right time, in a way that is visually appealing and easy to understand. Merchandising matters to airlines as a vital tool to improve traveller satisfaction and drive up revenues and yield. Join us in this panel to understand what is changing the air merchandising landscape and how airlines can effectively approach merchandising.
  • What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing airlines? 
  • How is current shift in distribution paradigm (e.g. Lufthansa’s DCC) redefining merchandising opportunities
  • How to maximise potential from IATA NDC?
  • How to deliver personalised merchandising? 
  • How to upsell but don’t upset customers? 
  • A view into the future of airline merchandising
Moderator: Mr Yanik Hoyles, Director of New Distribution Capability Program, International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Matthias Koch, Vice President, Business Development & Commercial Partnerships, Air France
Patrick F. Poetzsch, Head of Automated Sales, Product & Programs, Lufthansa German Airlines
Eric Dumas, Chief Executive Officer, Vayant Travel Technologies
Mr William Cavendish, Vice President Distribution Strategy - Global Sales, Emirates
Panel discussion
Air Retail
15:30

Panel cont'

15:50

Exhibition Visit, Networking & Refreshments

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION SESSION

Now’s your chance to get really interactive! Simply pick one of our roundtable topics and join the debate. Numbers will be limited at each table, to ensure everybody gets their chance to participate in the discussion.
16:30

Achieving operational efficiency through automation

Airlines’ IT systems are typically structured in silos, operating independently and making streamlining difficult. IT leaders have turned to automated solutions to link the systems together, minimise human errors, and improve economic value. Come and exchange ideas with IT leaders on how and where to implement automation and what integration framework is needed.
Mr Harry Teng, Chief Information Officer, V Air
16:30

APIs for the skies: Benefits of XML API distribution for airlines

The travel industry is rapidly evolving. New low-cost carriers are challenging established airlines, while at the same time consumers are demanding higher visibility into pricing, real-time information about their flights, more streamlined check-in, and better travel experiences. The entire travel sector has to adapt, but for airlines, it’s crucial. The way forward requires the ability to easily share data, forge new partnerships, and create experiences to meet both industry and consumer demand. These challenges are best met through application programming interfaces (APIs).
Mr Yanik Hoyles, Director of New Distribution Capability Program, International Air Transport Association (IATA)
16:30

Building and institutionalising effective knowledge management

High turnover rate and overload of data are making knowledge management (KM) increasingly more important. This creates a pressing need for airlines to build and implement an effective KM project to facilitate decision-making capabilities and stimulate innovations.
Pradeepa Kekulawala, Head of Human Resources, SriLankan Airlines
16:30

Cross device digital marketing: Reach, re-engage & convert customers over multiple screens

Yuko Saito, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Criteo
round tables
16:30

Distribution: Online only or do we need the GDS/Agents?

With Lufthansa introducing Distribution Cost Charge and Ryanair announcing its plan to become the "Amazon of travel", the airline distribution landscape has never been so critically shaken up. Join us in a discussion on how the distribution ecosystem will evolve, and how we as individual airline and as an industry can prepare and innovate ourselves when the distribution paradigm is shifting.
Mr William Cavendish, Vice President Distribution Strategy - Global Sales, Emirates
Otto Gergye, Former Senior Vice President Global Sales, airberlin
16:30

Get ahead of the competition with effective fuel process optimization

Learn from airline experts and fuel management specialists about how all processes relating to fuel can be efficiently handled in one software platform.  This leads to benefits such as effective allocation of tasks to allow for greater workforce focus, efficient tendering to give fuel buyers the tools to negotiate the best deal for the airline, automated invoice verification to eliminate overpayments and planning precision to ensure fuel budgets are met in line with company goals.
Andy Smith, Sales Director, FuelPlus
round tables
16:30

How to better handle disruption and irregular operations

Airlines operate in a volatile environment, where extreme weather conditions, industrial action, air traffic congestion, security alerts and more disrupt operations and generate unexpected costs. Join this session to debate how to restore normal services quickly and cost-efficiently.
Manish Sinha, Chief Operating Officer, Hyderabad International Airport
Patrick Fennell, Head of Operations Integration, Oman Air
16:30

How to effectively use social media for branding?

Building a consistent brand image using social media is far from easy, and faux pas are bound to happen. For airlines, social media branding can be incredibly tough due to a wide and growing audience. This roundtable would see marketing experts sharing the best practices they know, the worst social media mistakes they’ve seen, and how to avoid these pitfalls.
Yik Chuan Teh, Director, Sales & Marketing, Tigerair Singapore
16:30

How to grow ancillary revenue from your operational notifications

Join us to take a deeper look into the various opportunities your operational notifications can provide in driving additional ancillary revenues. From the hidden opportunities in your flight status and pre-departure communications to maximising value from disruption notifications – we’ll discuss and debate how you can provide targeted, tailored offers best suited to the individual passenger and grow a healthy ancillary revenue, all whilst maintaining outstanding customer service.
Nicholas Key, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, 15below
16:30

If we are ready to move to the cloud, how should we do that?

When we talk about the cloud, very few of us ask ourselves if we really know what are the exact pros and cons of it? Is cloud a good idea? If you are a new airline and haven’t invested a lot in in-house data centre, then cloud computing might be more valuable. But if you’re an older one with existing data centre, it’s difficult. Cloud computing might not be as simple as putting your data onto a third-party server. This roundtable will look at the key factors for CIOs to consider before moving their IT infrastructure to the cloud.
Davesh Shukla, Chief Information Officer, Delhi International Airport
round tables
16:30

In-flight experience: How to reconnect passengers to the magic of flight

Fiona Blakey, Head of Product and Service Development, Thomson Airways
Ms Apple Ignacio, Director - Guest Experience And Innovation, Cebu Pacific Air
16:30

India and South Asia: Capturing the growth prospects

With heavy fuel tax, strict regulations and scare trained pilots, profits for the airline sector in India and South Asian are hard to come by. Despite all the difficulties, aviation leaders remain optimistic because from the demand side, the market looks promising. GDP per head is growing quickly by global standards; and as people become richer, they fly more. Join us in a ‘spicy’ discussion to make sense of what’s going on and how to navigate the growth path in this region.
Suresh Nair, General Manager - India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, AirAsia Berhad
round tables
16:30

Long-haul low-cost: How to replicate short-haul success on longer routes

Given the success of short-haul LCCs in most regional markets, it is expected that LCCs would next venture into long-haul markets. Critical questions would be how LCCs can compete on routes served by established FSCs, and how the growth of long-haul low-cost model would affect FSCs' business strategies?
Rick Howell, Executive Advisor, Cebu Pacific Air
Pascal Bélanger, Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Winnipeg Airports Authority
16:30

Making sense of technology in competitive environments

Airlines are eager to supplement their IT with a collection of new add-on solutions to distance themselves from competitors. But it is the role of IT to create a high-performing business which until now have been hard/expensive and haven't delivered everything it promised. Join our roundtable where we will explore the facilitating factors for innovation (initiatives, standardisation, partner cooperation, role of technology, etc.) and discuss: What is the future as personalised technology becomes affordable and ubiquitous throughout consumer channels as the world moves toward a totally networked society; How can airline IT handle the constant data dump? We will also look at how airlines can avoid the imminent bottle necks of ancillary merchandising in cluttered booking windows with many different products, prices and bundles whether intelligently or not.
Syed Naveed, Chief Executive Officer, Proavos Aviation Solution
16:30

More choice and flexibility, more revenue: Product strategies to serve contemporary corporate travellers

Corporate travelers bring substantial revenue to airlines by purchasing additional services and using frequent-flier programs and other incentives. Realising the unique needs of corporate travellers is essential to ensure that airlines design and deliver products in a way that supports their needs. This roundtable will look at how airlines can integrate new options into their travel programmes while still tracking and controlling purchase behaviour of the corporate travel sector.
Joanna Patterson, Head of Global Corporate Sales, China Eastern Airlines
16:30

Next Generation Merchandising: Are Asian airlines maximizing the potential from IATA NDC, Branded Fares, Ancillary Bundles and other strategies which comprise the new Merchandizing frontier?

It is clear that Merchandising has an established foothold in airline revenue generation strategy. But with the growing interest in IATA NDC, the increasing popularity of Branded Fares and introduction of Dynamic Ancillary Bundles, Air Merchandising has traversed far beyond the cross-sell of bags and seats on airline.com. To what extent are Asian Airlines embracing these Next- Gen Merchandizing opportunities? What do airline executives need to know and do to set out on a new journey towards Merchandizing success?
Paul Byrne, Senior Vice President, Development, OpenJaw Technologies
round tables
16:30

North Asia: Innovative business models

One of the key drivers of APAC’s growth has been the airlines shifting capacities to North Asia. Some carriers show their ambition in achieving double-digit capacity growth. Come join our discussion on how to secure presence and increase profit in this market.
George Weinmann, Chief Executive Officer, MEGA Maldives Airlines
Andrew Cowen, Chief Executive Officer, HK Express
16:30

On-ground experience: Which passenger touch points are problematic and innovative solutions to make travelling a lot easier?

Bombi Bomantara, Group Head of Ground Operations, AirAsia Berhad
16:30

Payment innovations: Serving mobile customers without credit cards

Developing markets in APAC are seeing fast growth of mobile users, allowing airlines to push their offers straight to the hands of customers. However, the transaction is hindered by low credit card penetration. Join this session to explore how airlines are starting to provide payment alternatives, to allow sales to grow despite the lack of cardholders in the region.
Jerome Seidita, Mobile Commerce Director, Nok Air
round tables
16:30

Southeast Asia: Overcapacity and how to stay profitable?

Most SEA air travel markets have suffered from overcapacity. SEA air traffic is forecast to triple over the next 20 years to 270 million passengers, making it the world's sixth largest. The potential growth and also expected fierce competition are fuelled by the backdrop of the likely ASEAN Open Skies. Come join airlines who have a stake in this region to discuss how to expand services and solidify their position.
Jirapon Hirunrat, Vice President, Network Management, Bangkok Airways
Paul Carroll, Head of Revenue Management, AirAsia
16:30

Storytelling: Putting the passenger at the heart of your story

Flying is a fascinating experience.  And always a good story to tell.  Airlines are now increasingly embracing the art of storytelling in their marketing and communication efforts rather than relying on traditional corporate speak.  With some of most compelling content and stories coming out of airline brands today, this session will look into best practices in storytelling for airlines, the pitfalls and rewards; and how to blend the message and the medium to build brand love.
Tina Di Cicco, Chief Marketing Officer, Air Juan
16:30

The value of talent in pricing and revenue management: How to empower your people to maximize revenue

Robert Carey, Principal, McKinsey & Company
16:30

To join or not to join an alliance: The new partnership strategies

The decision to join an airline alliance is very important strategic decisions to take for an airline, let alone for smaller carriers that need to prove to existing alliance members that they represent a good addition to the group. All in all, joining an airline alliance comes with a number of benefits and pitfalls. We invite you to join a discussion on what airlines should know prior to making the important decision of joining an alliance, and if to join, how to make the alliance a successful one.
Michael Burke, Assistant Director, Commercial, Hong Kong Airlines
round tables
16:30

Using Big Data to gain full and timely control over cost and revenue

Airlines are starting to produce insights on the actual cost and revenue on a daily basis to take timely appropriate actions. IT leaders need to know what information is useful and which method to deploy in order to effectively mine and analyse huge amounts of data. Join this discussion to explore how.
Igor Roytman, Chief Information Officer, Sirena-Travel
Sirinun Jiradilok, Managing Director, Information Technology, and Payment Solutions, Nok Air

KEYNOTE PLENARY SESSION

Sebastian Herzog
17:20

Working with tomorrow’s industry pioneers: Innovating and disrupting aviation for the future

With amazing new start-ups and disruptive technologies appearing every day, the innovators will be the winners in the aviation industry of the future. Hear how the Lufthansa Innovation Hub is teaming expert Lufthansa staff with early stage companies and a cross-industry advisory board to create innovative and exciting offerings that will change the travel landscape.
Sebastian Herzog, Chief Strategist & Co-Founder, Lufthansa Innovation Hub
Panel discussion
17:40

The Travel Disruptors Panel: Shaping the future of air travel

In today’s internet-based era, the talk of the town is customer-centricity, personalisation, and customisation. That means customers want transparent airfare comparisons, seamless check-in, comfortable seating, cut-rate hotels, recommended restaurant premises and a whole load of additional services. Given the new complexity in customer’s expectations, those who are able to sort it out will lead the game. 

Join us in a thought-provoking debate of the future of air travel – where some of the industry’s game changers would discuss how different players can make money in more earnest ways, and how passengers can enjoy the journey more, too. Key areas that will be addressed include: 
  • Who are the latest companies shaking up the airline industry? Who is the next disruptor? 
  • What would change the face of the travel business in a revolutionary way?
  • If we started an airline from scratch, what would we do? 
  • Radical ideas and know-how to get things done
Moderator: Shashank Nigam, Chief Executive Officer, SimpliFlying
Sebastian Herzog, Chief Strategist & Co-Founder, Lufthansa Innovation Hub
Steve Hui, Founder, iFLYflat
Eric Gnock Fah, Co-Founder, Klook
18:30

Networking Drinks Reception

last published: 21/Feb/16 09:27

 

 

 

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