Waltzing Matilda Aviation (WMA) will be launching Connect Airlines, a new airline starting operations in October 2021, connecting Toronto Billy Bishop City Airport with airports in the Northeast and Midwest United States.
Using the Canadian built Q400 turboprop aircraft, Connect Airlines will offer a premium service for day-tripping business travelers direct into Toronto’s downtown island Billy Bishop airport. Subject to regulatory approvals, the airline will provide a valuable alternative to business travelers as they start to fly between the United States and Canada again.
John Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of WMA, comments: “We are passionate about how aviation brings people, cultures and business together. Especially in these challenging times, we are committed to delivering the world’s most rewarding premium travel experience with safety, service, convenience and reliability.”
WMA chose IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, as its strategic launch partner. IBS Software’s SaaS model fully supports the needs of the start-up airline minimizing fixed costs.
Thomas continues: “The last year has shown that airlines need to be lean, agile and digital-first. Not only is this important as the industry recovers but passengers are demanding it. Travelers want a seamless digital experience which is why we partnered with IBS Software. We can manage the airline on a single integrated platform, meaning we can spend more time focusing on our customers, rather than IT headaches.”
Connect Airlines will be the launch airline for IBS Software’s “Airline-in-a-box” set of solutions, enabling them to manage the airline on a single integrated platform, with a simultaneous and seamless implementation and integrated sources of data. The solution includes:
- iFly Res, a next generation, customer-centric passenger service solution; the first NDC natively compliant solution in the market, with advanced ancillary management capabilities,
- iFlight Lite, an integrated end-to-end fleet and crew operations platform to enable the airline to run efficiently from the beginning,
- iFlight MRO, a maintenance and engineering software solution that provides the foundation to implement best-in-class business process to control overall maintenance costs.
- IBS Software will also build and host Connect’s website and mobile app, using the latest technology to support personalization and serve the needs of the connected business traveler
Jitendra Sindhwani, IBS Software, President & Head, Aviation Business at IBS Software, comments: “Connect Airlines is bucking an industry-wide trend. This bold statement is testament to the growing confidence in the aviation industry recovery. Our integrated set of solutions will support Connect Airline’s commercial and operational business. This includes reservations, fleet and crew operations, maintenance, and their website and mobile application. We are able to provide all the technology to enable the airline to start flying. We are thrilled to welcome Connect Airlines to the IBS Software family and look forward to our long-term partnership with Waltzing Matilda Aviation.”
