Maximizing Platform Investments – RM System Setups for Diverse Airline Models

PROS, Inc. is a leading provider of SaaS solutions that optimize omnichannel shopping and selling experiences, powering intelligent commerce.

Key Takeaways

  • Tailored RM Configurations: Airlines like SriLankan Airlines, Saudia, and Air Transat achieved success by aligning their revenue management (RM) systems with their unique business models, such as transitioning to Origin & Destination (O&D) setups or enhancing leg-based systems.
  • AI and Machine Learning Benefits: Advanced technologies like AI and ML free analysts for strategic tasks, enabling better decision-making and long-term revenue optimization.
  • Implementation Challenges and Solutions: Common hurdles like data migration, cultural shifts, and user adoption were addressed through stakeholder education, continuous training, and quality-focused interventions.
  • Advanced Forecasting Techniques: Tools like simulation-based forecasting and in-house machine learning models helped the airlines improve demand predictions, manage volatility, and optimize pricing.
  • PROS Expertise and Support: The PROS platform provided tailored solutions, robust integration capabilities, and specialized training, ensuring smooth transitions and measurable revenue growth for diverse airline models.

Revenue management isn’t one-size-fits-all. The same platform that transforms a hub-and-spoke carrier’s connecting traffic decisions can revolutionize how a leisure airline manages its point-to-point network. The key? Configuration that aligns with your airline’s business and revenue strategy, and unique market dynamics.

Maximizing Platform Investments Thumbnail

One Platform. Three Models. Three Success Stories.

In this blog post, we explore how three different airlines unlocked the full value of the PROS Revenue Management platform, each taking a different path, shaped by their business model and goals:

SriLankan Airlines migrated from segment-based to Origin & Destination (O&D) setup to better capture connecting traffic revenue.

Saudia is shifting from legacy leg-based operations to global O&D modeling in support of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 transformation.

Air Transat remained leg-based and is growing its connection but enhanced their setup with PROS Elasticity Forecasting and Optimization integration to suit their unique vacation-package dynamics.

Each journey reinforces a simple truth: the right RM configuration can unlock significant revenue potential, but success depends on understanding your airline’s specific needs, market dynamics, and operational realities.

Why RM System Configuration Drives Revenue Performance

No two airlines operate alike, so why should their revenue management systems look the same?

Modern revenue management platforms offer flexible configuration options, because airline business models vary dramatically. The key is matching system capabilities to your operational strategy and market position.

O&D Logic: Essential for Hub-and-Spoke Networks

For airlines with significant connecting traffic, switching from leg-based to origin-and-destination (O&D) logic is a game changer, which, according to industry research, can lead to 1-2% incremental revenue gain.

“We have about 30-40% connecting traffic in our network. So the biggest advantage, the value driver, is the ability to take inventory and pricing decisions based on the entire journey, the O&D, instead of leg-based pricing decisions, or inventory management decisions.”
Kshanaka Saparamadu, headshot
Kshanaka Saparamadu
Head of Revenue Management, Network & Alliance
SriLankan Airlines Logo

This shift from segment-based thinking to O&D optimization enables airlines to account for the full value of a passenger’s journey. This is crucial when competing itineraries share flight segments, but differ in total distance, price elasticity, and strategic value.

Price Elasticity: Capturing Price Sensitivity Nuances

Air Transat’s experience demonstrates how advanced pricing models can address unique market challenges. While staying leg-based, they implemented Elasticity Forecasting and Optimization technology to better handle their vacation package business and distinctive booking curve.

“PROS reviewed the challenges, and said it was time for Air Transat to move to a system that will actually leverage AI and machine learning to estimate price elasticity and adjust the price as quickly as possible, because those are the challenges that we were facing with the leg-based system. And also resolve that unique Air Transat operation and booking curve, which is very, very different from many of the airlines.”
Aimé Kuiteing, headshot
Aimé Kuiteing
Senior Director, Revenue Management Systems
Air Transat Logo

AI and Machine Learning: Freeing Analysts for Strategic Work

Artificial intelligence and machine learning aren’t just buzzwords, they’re transforming how RM teams work.

“With this AI capability and ML capability, analysts’ time to engage in more strategic activities is freed up. Otherwise, they would have been reacting to volatile markets, doing reactive decision-making.”
Kshanaka Saparamadu, headshot
Kshanaka Saparamadu
Head of Revenue Management, Network & Alliance
SriLankan Airlines Logo

By automating tactical tasks like forecast tuning and optimization, modern RM tools give teams the bandwidth to drive long-term revenue strategy and better business outcomes.

Implementation Challenges: Common Patterns and Solutions

Despite unique configurations, these airlines faced similar implementation hurdles, but found effective solutions to drive RM success.

Data Migration and Historical Information Gaps

Transitioning from legacy systems to O&D logic surfaced a common problem: insufficient historical data in the right format.

“The main challenge was not having clean historical data, because we were in LegSeg setup for 20 years. But the O&D system would require having O&D booking data for a significant historical period.”
Kshanaka Saparamadu, headshot
Kshanaka Saparamadu
Head of Revenue Management, Network & Alliance
SriLankan Airlines Logo

To bridge the gap, SriLankan combined partial data migration with analyst-driven decision-making in the early months, allowing the RM system to recalibrate over time.

Cultural and Process Transformation

Technology implementation succeeds or fails based on user adoption. RM analysts need to be trained on the system, understand how it works to deliver the desired outcome, and build the trust that it is their best decision-support.

“We all know the science works. What is important is to make sure that the adoption is strong and is consistent. So it’s not just that you come in, you do the trainings, and you move out, but it’s continuous reinforcement.”
Prabh Sharan Singh, headshot
Prabh Sharan Singh
former Director of RM & Pricing COE
 Saudia Logo

Similar to Saudia, SriLankan Airlines addressed this through comprehensive stakeholder education and ongoing support.

“PROS had the expertise and experience of handling various system cutovers in various markets. And we got the PROS team to do presentations and educate our various stakeholders on what to expect when we moved into a new system, so that most of the problems in that sense were solved.”
Kshanaka Saparamadu, headshot
Kshanaka Saparamadu
Head of Revenue Management, Network & Alliance
SriLankan Airlines Logo

Managing Expectations and Intervention Quality

Airlines must balance system automation with analyst expertise. Air Transat’s approach focuses on intervention quality rather than quantity.

“We focus more on the quality of intervention. The intervention has to help the system. We don’t rate analysts based on the number of interventions, but rather how it influences the system to actually produce good results.”
Aimé Kuiteing, headshot
Aimé Kuiteing
Senior Director, Revenue Management Systems
Air Transat Logo

This shift reframed analysts not as system babysitters, but as strategic partners in optimization that enable better results faster.

Advanced Forecasting Techniques That Deliver Results

Each airline leveraged different forecasting capabilities based on their market conditions and operational needs, but all aimed to improve accuracy, responsiveness, and revenue optimization.

As a result of these innovations, the airlines have increased their revenue and improved customer satisfaction. By using advanced forecasting techniques, they can offer competitive pricing while also optimizing seat availability.

Granular Forecasting for Diverse Traffic Types

The same route can serve multiple passenger types with different booking behaviors and budget constraints. SriLankan Airlines uses PROS RM to forecast demand across different passenger segments, and based on that optimize pricing for each market segment, resulting in increased revenue and load factors.

By utilizing different forecasting capabilities based on their specific market conditions and operational needs, airlines can better prepare for potential disruptions. This is especially important in today’s volatile markets, where unforeseen events can greatly impact the industry and lead to demand shifts.

One such tool that has proven effective for SriLankan Airlines is simulation-based forecasting. By using a simulation model, the airline can run various scenarios and analyze potential outcomes to make informed decisions. This allows them to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to adjusting prices and managing inventory.

“The simulation model allows you to carry out various scenario planning to see what could happen in case of a situation like that, and so that we can be ready well in advance in terms of our pricing and inventory decisions as to what we should do in terms of such situations.”
Kshanaka Saparamadu, headshot
Kshanaka Saparamadu
Head of Revenue Management, Network & Alliance
SriLankan Airlines Logo

In-House Model Integration

Air Transat supplements platform capabilities by integrating in-house machine learning models with PROS Forecasting and Optimization. This hybrid approach improves the precision of demand predictions, identifies emerging booking patterns, and allows for fast model updates as conditions shift, especially important for their seasonal and leisure-focused network.

Saudia’s Roadmap for Enhanced Forecasting Accuracy

To improve network-level forecasting accuracy and effectively manage their significant portion of double-digit group traffic, Saudia is implementing integration with PROS Group Sales Optimizer.

By further incorporating group volumes into the RM forecasting and optimization process, the airline aims to bring more consistency, control, and accuracy to large booking scenarios that impact network-wide planning and pricing.

“40% of our business is group traffic, which is unheard of for most of the carriers. And then the ability to incorporate that into our optimizer will give us a better way of forecasting across our network, which will be a huge step forward for us as well.”
Prabh Sharan Singh, headshot
Prabh Sharan Singh
former Director of RM & Pricing COE
 Saudia Logo

Why PROS: A Platform Built for Airline Complexity

Proven Expertise in System Integration

PROS has a long track record in managing complex system transitions, ensuring seamless integration with different reservation systems to support a wide range of airline models and market needs. Its approach accommodates diverse operational demands, providing a reliable foundation for system upgrades.

Tailored Stakeholder Support

With specialized in-house expertise, PROS provides customized education and training like RM certification and masterclasses. These initiatives are designed to reduce implementation challenges, enhance user adoption, and ensure a smooth transition to the platform.

Advanced Forecasting for Volatility Management

The PROS Platform employs sophisticated, multi-layered forecasting techniques that learn from demand shifts. These tools enable airlines to navigate market volatility with confidence, supporting scalable operations and strategic decision-making.

Recognized for Trust and Innovation

Airlines trust PROS for its robust technology stack grounded in rigorous scientific methodologies. This foundation supports sustainable performance and fosters long-term innovation.

Maximizing Your RM Platform Investment

The experiences of SriLankan Airlines, Saudia, and Air Transat demonstrate that successful RM platform implementation doesn’t succeed on technology alone, it requires alignment between system configuration and business strategy, and a trusted partner. Whether you’re operating hub-and-spoke networks with significant connecting traffic, transforming your operational model to serve new markets, or optimizing unique leisure and package businesses, the right platform configuration can drive measurable revenue improvements.

The key lies in understanding your specific operational needs, market characteristics, and organizational capabilities, and then configuring your RM platform to amplify your competitive advantages, rather than restricting your business into a generic template.

Success stories like these show that when airlines invest in the right partnership and commit to proper implementation, they can realize short-term revenue improvements while positioning themselves for long-term success in a competitive, fast-changing market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the importance of configuring RM systems to match an airline’s business model?

Modern revenue management (RM) platforms offer flexible configurations to align with an airline’s unique operational strategy and market position. Tailored configurations, such as Origin & Destination (O&D) setups for hub-and-spoke networks or elasticity forecasting for leisure airlines, can unlock significant revenue potential and improve operational efficiency. 

How does Origin & Destination (O&D) logic benefit airlines with connecting traffic?

O&D logic enables airlines to make inventory and pricing decisions based on the entire journey, rather than individual flight segments. This approach is particularly beneficial for hub-and-spoke carriers, as it accounts for the full value of a passenger’s journey, leading to incremental revenue gains of 1-2%. 

What role do AI and machine learning play in modern RM systems?

AI and machine learning automate tactical tasks like forecast tuning and optimization, freeing up analysts to focus on strategic activities. These technologies enhance decision-making, improve responsiveness to market volatility, and drive long-term revenue growth. 

What challenges do airlines face when implementing new RM systems, and how can they overcome them?

Common challenges include data migration issues, cultural shifts, and user adoption. Airlines can address these by combining partial data migration with analyst-driven decision-making, providing comprehensive stakeholder education, and focusing on continuous training and reinforcement. 

How does PROS support airlines in optimizing their RM systems?

PROS offers tailored solutions, robust system integration capabilities, and specialized training programs. Their platform employs advanced forecasting techniques, such as simulation-based forecasting and elasticity optimization, to help airlines navigate market volatility and achieve measurable revenue growth. 

What advanced forecasting techniques are used in RM systems to improve accuracy?

Techniques like simulation-based forecasting, in-house machine learning models, and group sales optimization are used to enhance demand predictions, manage volatility, and optimize pricing. These methods allow airlines to prepare for potential disruptions and adapt to changing market conditions

Why is user adoption critical for the success of RM system implementation?

Technology alone cannot guarantee success. User adoption ensures that RM analysts trust and effectively use the system to achieve desired outcomes. Continuous training, stakeholder education, and quality-focused interventions are essential for building this trust and ensuring consistent results. 

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