The most recent articles from VNU Business Publications

Air transport industry set for e-ticketing deadline

Angelica Mari — 2008-05-09T10:55:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Friday 9 May 2008 at 10:55:00

There are no plans to postpone May deadline despite protests, says IATA

National network of travel agents Advantage believes the switch to e-tickets will create a “shambles” in the sector and is urging authorities to delay the 31 May implementation deadline for...

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Virgin Atlantic renews outsourcing contract

Angelica Mari — 2008-05-08T17:05:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Thursday 8 May 2008 at 17:05:00

The airline extended its managed services deal with Tata Consultancy Services until 2011

Virgin Atlantic has extended its managed services contract with supplier Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for a further four years. No major changes are expected from the new agreement and TCS...

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BA: software failures key in T5 fiasco

Tom Young — 2008-05-08T17:00:00.000Z

Tom Young, Computing, Thursday 8 May 2008 at 17:00:00

Glitches and lack of training caused baggage disasters

Software failures were a key part of the Terminal 5 fiasco (T5) last month, but it is still unclear whether British Airways (BA) or BAA are responsible, a Commons Transport...

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Virgin Atlantic invests in IT to improve service

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-25T17:30:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Friday 25 April 2008 at 17:30:00

The airline is using an integrated system to boost upper-class service levels

Virgin Atlantic is using a customer-focused system to enhance service levels for its executive customer area at Heathrow Terminal Three....

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Virgin changes platform to improve integration

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-17T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Thursday 17 April 2008 at 00:00:00

The trains operator did not need the additional functionality involved in an SAP upgrade

Virgin Trains will not upgrade an existing SAP implementation because cost and unwanted functionality have made it unviable. The firm has ditched the previous system in favour of a cheaper...

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Eurostar upgrades network infrastructure

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-16T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Wednesday 16 April 2008 at 00:00:00

Rail operator promises greater functionality for customers

Rail operator Eurostar is using a switch and firewall infrastructure to speed up its ticketing and boarding systems. The channel tunnel service will support existing sites and integrated new locations...

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Airbus starts world's largest RFID project

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-11T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Friday 11 April 2008 at 00:00:00

The scheme will aim to reduce aircraft production and maintenance costs

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has signed a multi-million dollar contract with IBM and OATSystems for the provision of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system aimed at streamlining supply chain and manufacturing operations....

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BA delays further T5 moves until June

Tom Young — 2008-04-11T00:00:00.000Z

Tom Young, Computing, Friday 11 April 2008 at 00:00:00

BA and BAA want more time to iron out glitches with baggage handling system before scheduling more flights for T5 departure

BAA and British Airways (BA) have announced that a planned move of more BA flights from Heathrow's Terminal (T4) to Terminal 5 (T5) until June....

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Government trials mobile tickets

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-10T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Thursday 10 April 2008 at 00:00:00

The first large-scale NFC trial using smartcard standard ITSO goes live in the next couple of weeks

The Department for Transport (DfT) is to start the first major government-backed trial of near-field communications (NFC) to enable mobile phone ticketing on buses....

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Terminal Five plagued by more IT glitches

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-07T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Monday 7 April 2008 at 00:00:00

New failure in the baggage system prompted workers to sort bags manually

Further problems with the baggage software at Heathrow's Terminal Five meant that manual checks had to be carried out and more flights left without bags over the weekend....

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EU gives approval for in-flight mobile phone calls

Neon Kelly — 2008-04-07T00:00:00.000Z

Neon Kelly, Computing, Monday 7 April 2008 at 00:00:00

"I'm on a..." - you get the idea

The European Commission has approved plans for the use of mobile phones on flights across Europe's airspace. The commission announced measures that will create a single set of technical and...

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Highways Agency network procurement took twice as long as planned

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-04T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Friday 4 April 2008 at 00:00:00

But the end result of the tendering was a big success, says National Audit Office

The Highways Agency (HA) took five years to complete the procurement of a digital information system for England's motorway network - twice as long as planned....

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Virgin offers mobile e-tickets

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-03T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Thursday 3 April 2008 at 00:00:00

Train operator started the "low-key" project in March as part of a wider e-ticketing scheme

Virgin Trains has started the second part of its e-ticketing project mobile phone tickets. From March, the train operator has carried out trials of the technology on eight trains...

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National smartcard scheme arrives

Angelica Mari — 2008-04-01T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Tuesday 1 April 2008 at 00:00:00

But MPs highlight integration challenges for buses and question whether the rail industry is ready

The English national concessionary travel scheme launched today - with a series of uncertainties related to smartcard integration in the bus network and further extension across the transport sector....

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easyBus streamlines back office software

Angelica Mari — 2008-03-31T00:00:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Monday 31 March 2008 at 00:00:00

Coach operator hopes to manage its finances more efficiently with analysis system

easyBus is using analysis software to streamline its financial management and back-office functions. The low-cost bus operator hopes to manage its finances more efficiently with the new system, so it...

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