Tech and AI Reshape Travel Industry: Mastercard, Turkish Airlines, OAG Share Insights
At a recent aviation and tech summit, industry leaders discussed the evolving role of technology in travel. Chiara Quaia of Mastercard and Serdar Güürbüüz of Turkish Airlines shared insights on payment shifts and tech spin-offs, while a panel moderated by Filip Filipov of OAG explored the impact of AI on the industry.
Chiara Quaia, Senior Vice President at Mastercard, spoke about the transition in payments from infrastructure to experience enablers. She also highlighted the potential of AI in enhancing fraud detection and sustainability assessment. Meanwhile, Serdar Güürbüüz, General Manager at Turkish Technology, revealed how Turkish Airlines spun off its tech division to create scalable, modular platforms. The aim is to launch its first true offer-order product by 2026, benefiting not just Turkish Airlines but potentially other airlines like American Airlines and United Airlines as well.
The panel, moderated by Filip Filipov, COO of OAG, saw leaders pushing back against AI hype. Steven Greenway, CEO of flyadeal, cautioned against overestimating AI's impact on airlines catering to diverse customer bases. The panel agreed that while AI will transform the 'plumbing' of travel, it won't happen overnight or uniformly across the industry. Madhavan Kasthuri, Head of Global Solution Engineering at Sabre Travel Network, EMEA, emphasized Sabre's shift from processing bookings to guiding sellers with smart insights. He also noted Sabre's investments in NDC and LCCs.
The summit underscored the strategic importance of technology in shaping the future of travel. While AI promises significant changes, industry leaders stressed the need for realism and a nuanced approach to its implementation. As Turkish Airlines' tech spin-off and Sabre's shift in focus demonstrate, the travel industry is actively adapting to the digital age.
