The Star Alliance network of airlines has signed a multimillion- pound framework agreement for the provision of a common IT platform.

Two of the biggest airlines in the network, Lufthansa and United, have committed to replacing their existing IT with systems from vendor Amadeus.

Lufthansa and United represent about 35 per cent of the alliance’s fleet, and analysts say the German carrier is investing about €300m (£202m) in the deal.
The new IT system will provide a range of airline services, including scheduling, availability, inventory, reservations, fare quotes and ticketing, as well as passenger check-in.

‘The Star Alliance common IT platform represents the realisation of a long-time strategic goal, driven by the effort to better serve customers, lower IT costs significantly, and dramatically increase the speed of delivering new products to market,’ said Jaan Albrecht, chief executive of the Star Alliance.

Expansion of the agreement to other members of the alliance, such as UK airline BMI, is expected, although contracts have yet to be signed.

Lufthansa plans to start migrating to the new IT platform in the second half of 2006, and aims to complete the transition by the end of 2007.

‘The new platform is an important step forward for passengers, the Star Alliance and Lufthansa,’ said Lufthansa chief executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber.

‘We can now offer our customers an even better service, from reservation to check-in.’

United’s migration is expected to start in 2008.

Cornelia Wels-Maug, research associate for analyst Ovum, says the airlines will hope to save on the costs of initial development, running the system and future enhancements, as well as automation of business processes.

‘The platform should enable the carriers to improve speed to market for the introduction of new products or functionality,’ said Wels-Maug.