Comair has partnered with Google Cloud as part of the airline’s initiative to modernize its digital infrastructure.
The SA-based travel group and operator of the British Airways brand and kulula.com will migrate its legacy IT infrastructure to Google Cloud in an effort to transform its customers’ travel experiences and spur passenger travel recovery.
In a statement from the airline, Comair Chief Information Officer, Avsharn Bachoo, comments on the collaboration with Google Cloud as a timely reorganization of the operator’s IT solutions.
“We are delighted to have moved to Google Cloud at a time when Cloud has become the foundation that enables businesses to transform, differentiate and gain [a] competitive advantage,” said Bachoo.
The airline has already implemented its infrastructure optimization plans by migrating “six labor-intensive, on-premises data centers” to Google Cloud. The security, reliability and flexibility provided by Google Cloud has enabled Comair to operate at higher efficiency levels and meet the demands for higher passenger volumes during peak travel seasons.
“The sooner you digitally transform, the quicker you’re able to respond to uncertain times. As a result, the digital maturity measures we’ve put in place have helped drive a post-lockdown recovery,” adds Bachoo.
After suspending its flight services in July 2021, following the announcement of an adjusted Level 4 lockdown in South Africa, the airline’s management team used the hiatus to explore and develop a range of pricing options to accommodate to its customer base. Based at its main hub in O.R. Tambo International Airport, the airline operates flights within South Africa and across Southern Africa to destinations such as Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Port Louis, Mauritius. On September 1, 2021, the airline resumed its passenger services.
The partnership with Google Cloud equips Comair with in-depth customer data analysis tools to better understand its customers and to tailor its products and services.
Additionally, Kulula.com, a low-cost carrier operated by Comair, has also benefited from the modernization offered by the collaboration. With upgrades to booking and payment processes, Comair’s customers can now connect with the airline using Kulula.com’s booking application channel.
“With the customer positioned at the heart of everything the team does at Comair, we are proud to deliver the cloud infrastructure capabilities and tools that will further engrain the airline’s brand promise to be the easiest to book and pay,” said Niral Patel, Director of Google Cloud Africa
“Comair’s digital transformation started before the pandemic, it was accelerated by the global health crisis. But the airline had taken a head start to digitization before the global lockdown was even in sight by migrating to the cloud. Also, by accelerating cloud adoption, Comair is able to reduce processing power for its systems and become more sustainable,” adds Patel.
Today, Comair operates an all-Boeing fleet across British Airways and kulula.com, consisting of 23 Boeing 737-800 NGs and three Boeing 737-400s.
