British Airways Owner Launches Second Accelerator Program to Revolutionize Travel

International Airlines Group is launching its second program, following the success of the first Hangar 51 global start-up accelerator. This scheme will be based in Spain, working with consulting company, Cink Emprende, to direct investment and create collaborative partnerships with start-ups to revolutionize the aviation industry and enhance customer experience.

The successful start-ups will be given 10 weeks of intensive industry expert advice from the Group’s airlines to develop and test their products. IAG will secure investment for the start-ups from its multi-million pound digital investment fund to support them in scaling their business.

Technology innovation is a driving factor for improving airlines’ operational efficiency and enhancing customer experience. Technology is changing the course for travel, with a commitment to cater to evolving customer expectations where a personalized and seamless end-to-end experience is strongly desired,

Bhupender Singh, CEO of Intelenet Global Services comments, “The travel industry is ripe for innovation, from maintenance and engineering to customer experience. Airlines operate on small profit margins, and are progressively turning to cutting edge technology to reduce costs, improve operations and enhance the passenger experience. Directing investment technology allows travel providers to be more agile and flexible in how they support passengers to manage their travel plans.

Bhupender continues, “Airlines are now understanding the importance of personalization at every touch point of the customer journey, and are using customer data to personalize the experience from the very first interaction. Digital technologies enable data to be quickly collected, analyzed, and collated into reports. This allows airlines and airports to personalize their services, which in turn, boosts customer loyalty. Ultimately, automation improves operating efficiency for travel providers, whilst ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.”