Front-end product layer
ABB’s ARM-compliant distribution layer enables searching, shopping and management of interline content through direct and OTA channels.
Searchable data layer
In response to shopping requests, the ABB system quickly and seamlessly combines flights and ancillaries to generate unique interline itineraries which you can configure to align with your business rules.
System integration layer
ABB draws its inventory from a broad range of network airlines, low-cost carriers, surface transport providers, and other vendors using direct PSS connections and aggregators.
An industry advantage
parameterized white label.
API for agency use.
virtual Interline.
sum of sectors, through pricing, private fares, custom allocation, dynamic, opaque, full ARM offer support for FSC round-trip fares in combination with LCC one-way fares.
sum of sectors.
sum of sectors.
TripConductor
At the center of Air Black Box’s capabilities is TripConductor. It is ARM distribution allows travel products to be defined and sold in far greater detail than in the past. TripConductor allows us to rapidly match and price a wide variety of travel products into compelling packages.
The system automatically ensures that ancillaries across all flight segments are consistent to satisfy any airport’s minimum connection times or to match baggage weight allowances between one airline’s flight and the next. Whether an ultra-low-cost, low-cost or full-service carrier, any airline supporting the itinerary can sell the full range of ancillaries available on each other’s flights.
ABB's TripConductor is a global enabler of IATA ARM Distribution “As a Service.”
TripConductor can create the offer, the order and ticketing management using ARM APIs.
TripConductor is a simplified vendor inventory distribution marketplace using an industry standard API:
We do the heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best: flying passengers and cargo.
You control what inventory you want to expose and its price.
We get along with others
Our virtual PSS integrates with airline systems and GDS’s to generate a “super PNR”, which can be accessed by the passenger, supporting airlines, or customer service centers. Even better, all of this functionality adheres to your business rules and branding preferences.
Most importantly, our system allows you to communicate directly with your customer for disruption mitigation, targeted upgrades, marketing programs, and future travel opportunities.
We get along with GDSs
While distribution through a GDS has clear benefits, the barriers to entry can be significant. ABB offers its own GDS subhosting with a high-level connection into GDS. Your airline's inventory can be easily added under the W2 aegis.
ABB provides deep automation capabilities to manage all communications between your PSS and GDS. The airline manages the connection using the ABB Air Admin configuration tool.
You define the inventory that gets listed in the GDS.
This inventory is made available within ABB GDS subhosting:
- Individual airline does not have to qualify to list inventory under GDS.
- This inventory can be limited to distribution in a particular region or by a specific partner.
Automatically upload schedules to OAG and fare information to ATPCO.
Automatically handle all translation and communication between the airline PSS and GDS, including all updates.
Implementation options
The Air Black Box platform is powerful, but also designed with simplicity and ease-of-use in mind. It allows you to quickly expand your distribution reach, your customer base, your network partnerships, and, by extension, your revenue. We provide three options:
We do it
We help you do it
You do it all
Key Benefits
Next-generation, cloud-native, scalable e-commerce platform with vendor-branded front-end with interlining booking engine.
Globally deployed, multi-vendor, API-driven ARM distribution layer.
A virtual PSS through TripConductor.
Flexible single-merchant payment model with rapid settlement.
Future-proof foundation with almost limitless possibilities through global ARM marketplace.
Secure, fast multi-tenant solution.
Secured data at-rest and in-motion using encryption and transport layer security (TLS).
Fast graph database with an in-memory cache maintained in a format compatible with ARM to minimize translation overhead when responding to ARM API requests.
Mission accomplished
The Air Black Box mission was to remove all obstacles that prevent travel providers and airlines from distributing their products to the global marketplace, and we’ve done just that. However, distribution is only one piece of the solution. Pricing is another. We provide powerful pricing tools for all sorts of strategies – visible or opaque, fixed or flexible. We provide true dynamic pricing that can be keyed to time and date, load, selling trends, modified upward or downward based on partner or channel or both.
Mission accomplished.
Let’s talk
If you have any questions
about the technology or would like to schedule a demo
