AI, Indian still operating separately

09 August 2007

Air India and Indian are operating as two separate entities with separate reservation systems and codes, despite their recent ''merger''.

The combined entity, the National Aviation Company (NACL), is handling operations in the name of NACL-AI and NACL-I for the two businesses.

While the official position is that it will take at least six months for proper integration, industry estimates are that the process could take anywhere between 18 and 24 months.

Integration of IT systems is considered very significant in airline mergers. If the booking engines of the two airlines are not linked, it means that their marketing efforts are not integrated. For customers, it means there is no real assurance of seamless connectivity.

Air India and Indian use different ticketing systems. While Indian uses an IBM system, Air India uses a Unisys system. It will take us at least 12 to 18 months to integrate the two ticketing systems, the source indicated.