Page 19 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AviATion TEchnology

With this cost-effective new service, we can help airline
customers around the world increase security by identifying
individuals involved with fraudulent credit card activity

– Heament John Kurian, Managing Director, IMS Asia Pacific for Rockwell Collins

The service, offered through a strategic AAA: How does this system use the
agreement with the DFASS group will be existing ACARS infrastructure to reduce
pioneered by hong Kong Airlines. risk of credit card fraud?
“Our Wi-Fi over ACARS solution Kurian: We have enabled WiFi over
allows airlines to capitalise on their ACARS for AOC services to drive Rockwell
existing equipment to conduct live credit Collins’ Portability Solution. In-flight
card authorisations without the need to purchase is considered an AOC service
invest heavily in expensive connectivity and real time validation reduces the risk
equipment. With this cost-effective new of credit card fraud.
service, we can help airline customers
around the world increase security by AAA: What are some other benefits and
identifying individuals involved with applications of the solution?
fraudulent credit card activity,” says Kurian: Some of the benefits and
heament John Kurian, managing director, applications of LCCA include:
IMS Asia Pacific for Rockwell Collins in an • Removing the current in-flight purchase
interview to Jay Menon of Asian Airlines cap for credit card payments
and Airports. • Facilitating seat upgrades
the aircraft existing infrastructure to • Facilitating frequent flyer miles accrual
AAA: What is the current landscape of in- provide WiFi capability for cabin Airline and redemption programs
flight credit card sales for airlines? Operational Control, or AOC services that • Accepting other payment modes such as
Heament John Kurian: In-flight credit is used to monitor and manage flight safety, debit card and e-Wallets
card sales represent an important source in-flight purchases, cabin operations and • Heightened security by identifying
of ancillary revenue for most airlines. security amongst others. By making AOC individuals using fraudulent credit cards
According to data from in-flight retail services portable, operational efficiencies
services provider, GuestLogix, ancillary will be vastly improved. AAA: How do you foresee airlines
revenue for international airlines was Aircraft equipped with WiFi over leveraging the service for in-flight retail?
$14.3 billion in 2013 – of which 15 percent ACARS will now be able to cost effectively Kurian: Airlines will start offering more
represented on-board retail sales from validate in-flight credit card payments in expensive, premium products and
passengers’ credit cards. real time, eliminating the risk of credit services as part of their in-flight retail
Fact is, most in-flight credit card card fraud and help airlines eradicate catalogue, and this will in turn help drive
transactions are not validated in real time, such losses. greater ancillary revenue. In addition,
and this exposes the airlines to the risk airlines can look forward to delivering
of fraudulent payments. Statistics have AAA: What is new and unique better passenger services and enhancing
shown that fraud can range from 2-7%, about the Rockwell Collins’ live customer loyalty.
depending on the sales volume that takes credit card authorisation service
place on-board, with annual credit card using WiFi over ACARS? AAA: Are there any customers who have
sales revenue ranging from US$100-200M Kurian: Rockwell Collins is the first in launched this new service?
for some carriers. the industry to launch the live credit Kurian: hong Kong Airlines is our launch
card authorisation (LCCA) service. customer for this service and we will be
AAA: How does Rockwell Collins IMS’ Airlines can utilize their existing ACARS fitting 12 A330 flights by the end of the
new WiFi over ACARS technology help equipment without the need to invest year, the first of which is slated to be in
airlines address this issue? heavily in expensive avionics. LCCA can operation by mid-2015. We have seen
Kurian: Rockwell Collins’ WiFi over be implemented on airlines of any size keen interest for LCCA from other airlines
ACARS is actually a key enabler of our on- and type, from traditional carriers to low- as well.
board Portability Solution, which utilizes cost carriers.
WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM MARCH / APRIL 2015 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS 19