Air New Zealand signs 5-year digital partnership with Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services has signed a five-year partnership deal with Air New Zealand to help modernise the Kiwi carrier’s digital infrastructure and position it at the forefront of AI innovation.
Operating since 1940 and majority government-owned, Air New Zealand today serves more than 15 million annual travellers across 3,400-plus weekly flights, with a passenger and cargo network spanning almost 50 international and domestic locations.
Those passengers will be hoping to soon benefit from the airline’s new digital partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which will be aimed at improving customer service and driving operational efficiencies through the implementation of emerging technologies such as AI.
“Leveraging TCS’ expertise in cutting-edge technologies will help us enhance the customer experience, streamline operations, and reinforce our commitment to cybersecurity and data protection,” stated outgoing Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran. “This collaboration aligns with our vision to be a digitally-enabled airline of the future.”
The five-year partnership agreement follows TCS’ recent group-wide data transformation deal landed with Air France-KLM, while the Indian-origin consultancy’s other aviation engagements over recent years have included a first-of-its-kind intelligent operations solution rolled out for Singapore Airlines, and a long-standing relationship with Virgin Atlantic.
“We began working with TCS in September and in just a few short months we’ve seen the benefits of tapping into the depth and breadth of talent and expertise they have when it comes to digital solutions and aviation,” Foran said. “We’re excited about the benefits this partnership will bring for our customers and the wider industry.”
The collaboration will cover a wide range of operational functions, including a bid to streamline more than 600 digital Air New Zealand applications via cloud and AI-driven automation in areas such as fleet and disruption management, maintenance systems, ground and cargo services, crew scheduling, and the airline's retail and loyalty program offerings.
While the project is already underway, Foran this week attended a formal signing ceremony in Mumbai alongside Tata Group chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, TCS chief executive K. Krithivasan, and the New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon, who was notably Foran’s predecessor at Air New Zealand prior to entering politics in 2019.
Krithivasan stated; “With our expertise in aviation, combined with our ability to drive large-scale innovation, TCS will enable Air New Zealand to set new benchmarks for efficiency, sustainability, and customer engagement by leveraging AI, automation, and cloud technologies – reimagining operations, enhancing experiences, and building a more agile and resilient airline.”
