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SLOT MANAGER REMOTEImmediate Access To Slot Data, Anywhere, Anytime

Airline slot experts can be summoned to handle an operational slot problem

or take advantage of a slot opportunity with exceptionally short notice. This re-

quires immediate access to an airline’s slot data and certain slot-management

functions. When slot experts are out of the office, they will be able to use Slot

Manager Remote on their mobile device to quickly access slot data and make

educated slot decisions.

By Stephani Hawkins | Ascend Editor

lots at the world’s most con-gested airports often require expert handling because these slots are particularly valuable, and precautions must be taken not to lose historic slots and to

ensure that any changes are made in accor-dance with an airline’s slot-portfolio strategy and in unity with the airport’s local rules.

Slot experts at many airlines use the Sabre AirVision Slot Manager IATA sys-tem, which provides an extensive set of business capabilities to manage an airline’s slot data. Slot Manager IATA is accessed onsite from users’ laptops or desktop computers.

However, what happens after hours when the slot expert is not on duty and the operations department is faced with an urgent slot problem? Or when slot experts run into situations, such as strategic oppor-tunities, where quick decision-making is required outside of the office?

When slot experts are not physically in the office but they need immediate access

to specific Slot Manager capabilities and slot data, they can now access this infor-mation remotely via Slot Manager Remote.

Slot Manager Remote is accessed by mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Slot Manager Remote connects directly to Slot Manager IATA using 4G/

LTE cellular networks or regular wireless networks. Therefore, the solution is avail-able 24/7 to slot experts in most parts of the world.

The objective of this new technology is to provide fast access to a subset of capabilities available in Slot Manager IATA using a simple, straightforward, mobile-device oriented interface. This subset of

capabilities — such as finding slots held at an airport on a certain date, adding data for new slot requests and send-ing slot-change requests to airport slot coordinators — is based on the most common needs when working remotely.

Slot Manager Remote accesses an airline’s Slot Manager IATA database. The system’s users access and see the same data as they would in the office, except in a simplified format. Any changes made with Slot Manager Remote are directly updated in the Slot Manager IATA database. This ensures that the Slot Manager Remote user is completely in synch with what is hap-pening at the airline’s headquarters and vice versa.

A major upside to Slot Manager Remote is that airline slot experts can manage slot problems around the clock, provided they have a remote device and a 4G/LTE or wireless network.

For example, slot experts can help airline operations address slot problems for very near-term operational issues where action must be taken immediately instead of waiting for the next business day.

Slot experts can also take quick advantage of slot opportunities before they are lost to other airlines.

Slot Manager Remote will initially be provided to Slot Manager IATA custom-ers that are currently working closely with Sabre in developing this new offer-ing. Subsequently, it will be offered as an add-on for all Slot Manager IATA cus-tomers. a

Yusuf Mauladad is a senior principal

for Sabre Airline Solutions. He can be contacted at yusuf.mauladad@sabre.com.

Remote Slot Management In the example above, slot experts use an iPhone running Slot Manager Remote to solve an urgent slot issue at Madrid. This involves checking which slots are held on the date in question, adding data for a new slot to be requested and then sending the slot request to the Madrid coordinator. All done quickly from screens designed for a mobile device.

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