720289Airport Comprehensive Engine [ACE] by Air Black Box Co.LtdClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKThe Air Black Box Company Ltd intends to develop and launch an integrated and comprehensive software suite that overcomes the failings in air travel support systems which have developed in the face of the fundamental market shift of the last decade: the massive international growth of low cost carriers [LCC /Budget Airlines]. Air travel was historically driven by legacy carriers using hub airports as connect points that enabled inter/intracontinental traffic, now there has been a paradigm shift. The key issue now is that there is no system that enables the connection of LCC and network carriers. The situation is deteriorating with airports now losing up to 30% traffic as legacy airlines withdraw from markets where LCCs dominate. Airports have been left to 3rd party providers to offer self-connections, forcing passengers to select itineraries of 2 or more non-interline (connecting) carriers. This results in disservice and high cost to consumers, falling traffic efficiency for airports and increased CO2 emissions through waste and inefficient use of available resources. ABB’s innovative Airport Comprehensive Engine [ACE] builds on ABB's Open Information Architecture platform providing a comprehensive system that airlines & airports can use to interconnect. Alternative options are either expensive, or partial and complex, and by using innovative technology and enhanced processes ABB’s ACE will address these imbalances. ACE creates clear benefits for 3 stakeholder groups. For Airports, (the primary target group) it enables connections for cross flow of passengers. For Airlines, it creates connections where there are either none available or they are not competitive. For Passengers, it will result in more choice, lower costs and opportunities for travel to places in a single booking. A UK company with global reach, will utilise multi-layered technology for virtual connections and logistics handling, and valueadd products that increase consumer travel options.