Powered by Abanco MDT; Gate Gourmet and ARINC form Strategic Partnership
for On-Board Sales
PRESS RELEASE
Annapolis, Maryland - April 30, 2008 Annapolis, Maryland - ARINC Incorporated and Gate Gourmet, a global leader in airline catering and onboard retail management, today said they will work together to market on-board sales programs for the world's airlines and passenger rail systems.Under a memorandum just signed, Gate Gourmet will offer ARINC's cutting-edge SkyBuyTM sales technology as the standard in its buy-on-board programs, while ARINC will work exclusively with Gate Gourmet on outsourced catering and buy-on-board projects. The two companies plan to introduce SkyBuy to retail programs already under way at three leading airlines-easyJet and Norwegian in Europe, and Jetstar in Asia.
SkyBuy sets a new industry standard for onboard retail management through the use of a wireless point-of-sale system to streamline in-flight sales transactions. With SkyBuy, airlines are able to sell food and beverages, in-flight entertainment, duty-free items, rail passes-even tickets to ground shows and entertainment-with the flexibility of payment by credit card, cash, or smartcard, and in multiple currencies.
SkyBuy uses a new wireless communications solution-ARINC's patent-pending Mobile Communications Gateway-to upload sales data automatically into back-office systems, thus maximizing revenue and transparency while shrinking administrative costs."
"Gate Gourmet will now take its success with 'buy-on-board' programs for our airline customers to the next level with SkyBuy," stated Herman Anbeek, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of gategroup. "It is an industry breakthrough in sales management systems, reducing the workload of flight attendants and providing airlines and caterers with near real-time data on sales and inventory," he said, adding that the same system could easily be adapted for passenger rail operations..
"The global airport footprint and retail model of Gate Gourmet fits perfectly with ARINC's aviation and communications expertise," stated Robert Sapitowitz, ARINC Vice President, New Business. "Together, we can offer airlines a powerful and complete onboard retail solution-from procurement, preparation and delivery, to sales tracking and inventory management."
SkyBuy is unique in the industry in bringing a wireless network to the aircraft, which eliminates the need to physically transport data devices or storage media between the aircraft and the terminal. Airlines benefit from an easy process for reconciling inventory, cash and commissions without the need to invest in their own hardware and systems.
Press Contacts for gategroup: John Bronson, Corporate Communications, 703-964-2362; Christina Ulosevich, Corporate Communications 703-964-2357.
