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Accelerate@IATA is the first industry-owned travel tech accelerator where airlines and startups converge for innovation.

Accelerate@IATA is an innovation program launched in 2019 that aims to accelerate the pace of innovation in the air transport industry by bringing together startups, airlines, and other stakeholders to collaborate and develop new solutions.

The program is designed to connect airlines with innovative startups that have been vetted by IATA  for their impactful solutions on the future of the industry and potential longevity. This will allow airlines to test new solutions and reach the pilot stage quicker. Members will have the opportunity to identify and select focus areas and startups in order to be at the leading edge of the industry and new technologies

Each group of selected startups will go through a dynamic program, where they will be granted unprecedented access to IATA Subject Matter Experts' mentor network, giving them a true innovation mindset to help them improve their solutions and scale to meet industry demand.

Each year, Accelerate@IATA plans to accelerate ~5 startups per batch, 20 – 30 startups per year. Every batch will be selected by IATA and member airlines based on industry priorities for 2023.

If you are a startup and interested in joining us, send us an email with information about your solution to accelerate@iata.org 

Committed to supporting airlines as they continue their digital retailing journey, Accelerate@IATA has already launched Batch 0 in 2019 and Batch 1 in 2020, both focused on accelerating the solutions of NDC aggregators in order to help distribute more NDC content.

Batch "Restart" - 2021

For 2020, the program will operate 4 segments for a period of 1 month each, around the industry restart priorities.

SEGMENT 1 (15 Sept - 15 Oct) - ANTICIPATE DEMAND :
Understand demand and adjust supply 

  • Supply and demand trend analysis and new ways of forecasting
  • Using data to identify intent to travel (airline, hotel), passenger sentiment
  • Demand driven capacity planning and coordination: maintaining supply against travel restrictions in a rapidly changing environment

Selected startups: 3Victors, Migacore, Flyr Labs, Airnguru, Prevedere, PredictHQ, Volantio

You can access here to the Session Recording.

SEGMENT 2 (8 Oct - 8 Nov) - STIMULATE DEMAND:
Incentivize passengers to fly again

  • New products during/after covid, offer flexibility, and ancillaries, including insurance (cancellation, quarantine fees, etc.)
  • Leverage destination marketing incentives (vouchers, rebates, tax) to benefit airlines
  • Restore connectivity – facilitating new types of partnerships
  • Visa Facilitation

Selected startups: GoQuo, Caravelo, HiKoala, Plusgrade, Smartvel, Dohop, Deepair, AirBlackBox

You can access here to the Session Recording.

SEGMENT 3 (22 Oct - 22 Nov) - PASSENGER CONFIDENCE:
Restore passenger confidence and improve experience on the ground

  • Contactless, Seamless Journey
  • Traveler Safety & Communication
  • Improve Customer Interaction with airlines and authorities
  • Increase Revenue per Passenger (incl. through Onboard Experience)

You can access here to the Session Recording.

SEGMENT 4 (10 Nov - 10 Dec) - OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY:
Optimize, automate and increase efficiency and processes.

  • Planning and scheduling to support recovery.
  • Reduce Turn Around Time
  • Biosafety (aircraft cleaning and sanitation)
  • Automating operational processes
  • Seat Management Optimization

You can access here to the Session Recording.

SEGMENT 5 (28 Jan - 29 Mar) - CONTACTLESS & SEAMLESS PASSENGER JOURNEY:

  • Improving Customer Service
  • New ancillaries through mobility as a service
  • Contactless baggage operations
  • In-cabin mobility management
  • Enhanced and contactless IFE

You can access the list of startups through our Segment 5 Startup Booklet and Session Recording.

 

SEGMENT 6 (21 Apr - 20 Jun) - HEALTH CREDENTIALS:
The short-term and long-term issues surrounding health credentials in the aviation industry and how to give passengers control over their data.

  • Digital and Verifiable Credentials
  • Data Security and Privacy
  • Precision Testing
  • Interoperability
  • The Global Trust Framework for Health Credentials.

Selected startups: Mattr, Accredify, Convergence.tech, ixlayer, Evernym.

SEGMENT 7 ( 22 Jun - 20 Aug) - SUSTAINABILITY:
With Environment and Sustainability being one of IATA's four pillars, the Segment 7 deep dive is our first of two Environment & Sustainability-focused deep dives. 

  • Environmental Footprint & Carbon Offsetting 
  • Reducing Single-Use Plastics 
  • Waste Management & Prevention 
  • Sustainability Process & Reporting Management

You can access the list of startups through our Segment 7 Startup Booklet and Session Recording.

SEGMENT 8 (7 Jul - 5 Sep) - AI & DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Our second Environment and Sustainability deep dive with focus on how airlines can better use artificial intelligence and data to reduce their impact on the environment. 

  • Route and Fuel Optimization
  • Waste Reduction
  • Wildlife Smuggling/Pandemic Prevention

You can access the list of startups through our Segment 8 Startup Booklet.

 

The focus areas for Batch 1 targeted offers and products within product differentiation covering the following areas: NDC, ONE Order, dynamic offerings, innovative payments and sustainability. In February 2020, 9 startups (30k, App in the air, Smooss, Bacarai, Deepair, WonderMiles, Ulysse, Aeronology, Airnguru) from around the world were selected based on their new solutions that can help airlines in these areas.

Prior to launch of Batch 1, the COVID-19 pandemic began and the batch was put on hold.

 

The focus of Batch 0 was to accelerate NDC Capabilities, that addressed the industry’s current distribution limitations such as product differentiations, time-to-time market and access to full and rich air content and transparent shopping experience.
The following 7 startups participated in the program and addressed the following areas. For more information, check out Batch 0 report (pdf).

Startup Areas Addressed
Caravelo
  • NDC
  • CRM/Loyalty, Analytics, Other
  • Revenue Management
Duffel
  • Airline Profile
  • NDC Aggregator
  • Offer Management & Merchandizing
Kyte
  • NDC Aggregator
Migacore
  • Pricing
  • CRM/Loyalty, Analytics, Other
PK Fare
  • NDC Aggregator
Thomalex
  • NDC Aggregator
Winglet
  • Pricing
  • Airline Profile
  • NDC Aggregator

Innovative solutions, tangible impact

At the end of Batch 0, 13 pilots and implementations were launched, with another 30+ in the pipeline!

 

 

JAL and Volantio: Smart Alerts

We are very fortunate to have been able to participate in the Accelerate@IATA program. We were introduced to Volantio, which today powers our Smart Alert notification. Over the course of the past 18 months, with frequent changes in flight schedules and air fares, we realized how travellers struggled to determine when is the right time to make a booking. We therefore wanted to keep engaging with customers who are not ready to book but show interests in specific routes. We also wanted to understand customers' intent to travel through analysing subscription and conversion data.

Our solution is Price Alert powered by Volantio. When users search for fares at the booking flow, they will see a Watch Prices button. This enables them to subscribe the price alert by simply typing in their email address. Price alert subscribers will be notified by email once the lowest fare of their selected itinerary is dropped compared to the previous 24 hours. We also send out a notice every 8 days when no price change has occurred. The "Book now" button on the email directly lands them to flight search result page of the same itinerary, thus reducing friction and improving conversion.

This would not have been possible without the help from Azim and his team at Volantio Team as well as IATA, and we are very grateful to them for providing us with such capabilities.

If your airline is interested in having their own success stories, contact us at accelerate@iata.org

Focus on Accelerate@IATA

Quickly facilitate pilots and implementations between airlines and startups who have interesting solutions and proven track records, targeting key industry business challenges. 

  1. ACCELERATE: The primary objectives are to find solutions for airlines that accelerate standard development & adoption of standards, and stimulate competition to bring new entrants to the market.
  2. IDENTIFY & SELECT RELEVANT STARTUPS: Collaboratively, the partners define the focus of the program and select the startups that best fit their needs.
  3. MAP SOLUTION & DEMAND: During the 1-month program, IATA subject matter experts help the startups to develop innovative solutions to meet airline requirements and take care of the onboarding work, freeing up airline resources.
  4. IMPLEMENTATION: The goal is to start a pilot and implementation between new entrants and airline partners at the end of the program.

Accelerate@IATA will run 4 90-day ‘segments’ in 2022, with themes chosen by the airline members around both industry and their airline goals. Our accelerator supports selected startups through education, mentorship, and, potentially, with financing from corporate partners.

Find out more in the Accelerate@IATA brochure (pdf)

 

  • Access to global, stage-agnostic startups and technology providers that have the potential to increase airline revenues, reduce costs, increase operational efficiency and build brand loyalty
  • Savings on innovation costs compared to internal development
  • Access to new technologies that meet the industry standards.
  • Startups and technologies double vetted by IATA and Plug and Play to ensure they meet industry guidance/standards, and that the startups are financially viable.
  • Focus on broad Industry Restart initiatives, tailored to airlines’ restart plans
  • Shorter program reducing time to market
  • Dedicated Accelerate Innovation Partner and Project Manager throughout the whole cycle
  • Access to IATA’s global network of airlines and value chain partners for pilot and implementation opportunities
  • Access to expertise and market knowledge
  • Industry mentorship