American Airlines CIO Monte Ford sheds no modesty when it comes to the integration of TWA’s computer systems. “It’s a modern miracle,” he says. “There is nothing that I have seen that comes as close to being as [complex and as] complicated as that was.” Hundreds of applications were modified to accept TWA data, and a new IP network was rolled out in more than 150 airports and other locations. Most of TWA’s systems were converted eight months after AA acquired TWA in April 2001. The most critical cutover involved TWA’s real-time passenger reservation system, which took place in December 2001. “The people [involved] did a phenomenal job. They must have done a phenomenal job,” Ford says. “They’re all asking for promotions.”Below is a brief chronology of the integration. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe September to Nov. 30, 2001 Replaced all workstations, ticket, bag-tag and boarding-pass printers at all TWA airports. Implemented a switch in the Sabre system that allowed Sabre-connected devices to connect to Worldspan (TWA’s computer reservation system) via Sabre. Nov. 3, 2001 Migrated 203,150 TWA passenger name records (PNRs) from the Worldspan reservation system to Sabre in preparation for the operational cutover on Dec. 2. More than 99 percent of the PNRs were automatically loaded without error or intervention.Implemented electronic ticketing between Worldspan and Sabre systems. Dec. 2, 2001 The Big Day: TWA operations, including its flight operating system and passenger reservation system, were successfully cut over from Worldspan to Sabre, and all flights began flying under the AA carrier code. Almost all systems and departments, including airport customer services, flight operations, and cargo, food and beverage, migrated to AA systems and procedures. Mileage from members of TWA’s Aviators Club frequent flier program migrated to AAdvantage accounts. Jan. 1, 2002 All TWA employees converted to AA payroll and benefits systems. April 30, 2002 The migration of TWA’s network infrastructure to AA’s network was completed, including e-mail for all TWA employees. May 18, 2002 The migration of the maintenance and engineering systems from TWA’s Kansas City, Mo., data center to the EDS data center in Tulsa, Okla., was completed. Source: American Airlines Related content news CIO Announces the CIO 100 UK and shares Industry Recognition Awards in flagship evening celebrations By Romy Tuin Sep 28, 2023 4 mins CIO 100 IDG Events Events feature 12 ‘best practices’ IT should avoid at all costs From telling everyone they’re your customer to establishing SLAs, to stamping out ‘shadow IT,’ these ‘industry best practices’ are sure to sink your chances of IT success. By Bob Lewis Sep 28, 2023 9 mins CIO IT Strategy Careers interview Qualcomm’s Cisco Sanchez on structuring IT for business growth The SVP and CIO takes a business model first approach to establishing an IT strategy capable of fueling Qualcomm’s ambitious growth agenda. By Dan Roberts Sep 28, 2023 13 mins IT Strategy IT Leadership feature Gen AI success starts with an effective pilot strategy To harness the promise of generative AI, IT leaders must develop processes for identifying use cases, educate employees, and get the tech (safely) into their hands. By Bob Violino Sep 27, 2023 10 mins Generative AI Innovation Emerging Technology Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe