ATPCO has embarked on a pro-bono initiative to help airlines, sales channels, and people who fly, and we thought you might be interested in knowing about it.
While most airlines have cut back schedules significantly or are even grounded at the moment, it’s a fluid situation. There are still many flights operating, some scheduled flights are being brought back into operation already, and there is still flight shopping for the future. Those traveling now – and those who will fly again in the future – are rightfully concerned about their health and safety when they travel. ATPCO saw an urgent need to help convey the measures airlines are taking to protect passengers when they are considering flights to purchase.
A cross-functional crisis team at ATPCO came together to create a broad set of Reassurance UPAs that describe specific measures airlines are taking to protect flyers. With this rich content integrated into flight shopping, people will know what steps an airline is taking to protect passengers. Customized Reassurance UPAs were created for nearly 90 airlines, representing more than two-thirds of the flight schedule. ATPCO is actively inviting airlines to collaborate so Reassurance UPAs can be further tailored according to the protocols they have implemented and to get access to the content for integration into flight shopping results across airline direct and indirect channels – at no cost.
Reassurance UPAs currently fall into the following categories, with new ones being added as airlines change practices:
Flexible booking
Air circulation
Cabin cleaning
Food service hygiene
Health safety measures
Airport cleaning
Passenger & crew wellbeing
Schedule adjustments
Health screenings
Security exceptions (e.g., larger bottles of hand sanitizer allowed by TSA)
Reassurance UPAs are now part of ATPCO’s Routehappy Rich Content offering and have been added to ATPCO’s UPA Hub platform.
While UPAs are typically only available to airlines via a paid subscription, Reassurance UPAs are being offered by ATPCO at no cost to airlines and sales channels and ATPCO is inviting indirect channels and airline direct channels to get in touch to discuss content integration options.
If you would like to know more about this initiative and how ATPCO is supporting the industry during this unprecedented crisis, I can set up a call with ATPCO’s Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Savitch or ATPCO’s EVP Retailing, Robert Albert.
Cleary Puchley, Sr. Sales Analyst, Distribution Strategy at American Airlines has also shared the following quote for use if needed: “Because of COVID-19, customers have real questions and concerns about flying. Reassurance UPAs help answer those questions right when it matters most, as they are researching flight options. American Airlines hopes more channels will make use of these UPAs to get the word out about all the measures we have taken to help travelers feel safer when they do travel.”
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