Flight Focus to implement its Next Generation Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) with Air Asia

SINGAPORE, 19th January 2011 – Flight Focus today announced that it has signed a new agreement with AirAsia to install its next generation Electronic Flight Bag solution, the Flight Focus PLATFORM, onboard the Airline’s entire fleet, including more than one hundred Airbus A320 aircraft.

This is in addition to the services already provided by Flight Focus to AirAsia X, where the Airbus A330 and A340 fleets are already operating with its EFB on long haul flights to destinations in Europe, Middle East, Australia and throughout Asia.

Flight Focus shall implement the Flight Focus PLATFORM, an encompassing solution for EFB / E- Charts / Iridium Satellite Messaging / Web- based portal and Flight Tracking to name a few.

Flight Focus’s Managing Director, Mr. Ralf Cabos, yesterday said “We are delighted to have been entrusted by AirAsia to implement the Flight Focus PLATFORM across their entire fleet of aircraft, adding the A320 fleet to our already supported A330 and A340 fleets. It proves we have the right systems, methodology and support in place, and we very much look forward to adding more value to their AOC’s based in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

With the global reach and cost benefits of Iridium®, the Flight Crew of AirAsia have an ‘always on’ and ‘real time’ messaging and alerting system that helps support proactive decision making processes and maintain excellent on-time performance. Embedding the Flight Focus PLATFORM into the business processes of an airline is key to both the airline and our success; our teams of engineers, software developers and support personnel have and continue to work very closely with the entire AirAsia team.”

AirAsia’s Captain Michael Lee, who has spearheaded the project, said “We have been working closely with Flight Focus for a few years now on the EFB solutions provided to our wide body fleets and customised for Air Asia’s requirements. As their launch customer, the system has worked and proven itself time and again.

The EFB solution from Flight Focus provides us with a technologically advanced and user friendly system. The performance software, Flight Focus dynamic flight planning system (FFIDS), e-charts and data analysis benefits us in saving up to 5% of fuel. Going ‘paperless’ is the way forward and the weight saved points to fuel burn and emissions reductions. Pilots’ workload is reduced through quick access to current operational data and other flight related documents contributing to a safe and efficient flight. With the EFB in an ‘always on’ configuration, duty dispatchers can constantly monitor position, have access to realtime performance parameters of the flight and communicate recommendations, company messages, latest weather trends and/or Notams to the crew, vice versa; complying with National Aviation Authority regulatory Flight Following requirements.
For a project like this to succeed, a degree of adjustment and evolution has to take place with both the vendor and the airline, and I believe our partnership with Flight Focus will continue to grow."

About AirAsia
AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with approximately 150 routes covering 78 destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe. Within 9 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 100 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to approximately 97. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries, China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Australia. This is further complemented by AirAsia X, its low-cost long-haul affiliate carrier that currently flies to destinations in in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, India, Europe and the UK. AirAsia is the regional carrier with the largest destination network and highest flight frequencies.

AirAsia was named the 2009 and 2010 World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax

About Flight Focus
Flight Focus Pte Ltd is a flight operations solutions and services provider for the aviation industry. The primary business is to provide airlines an open and complete Electronic Flight Bag solution resulting in savings and efficiencies almost immediately via the Flight Focus PLATFORM. A well defined global delivery model enables a reduction in time-to-market and cost-of-ownership while offering world class quality solutions and services. Flight Focus headquarters is in located Singapore, with offices located worldwide.