Ganesh Jayaram, Chief Digital and Information Officer at American Airlines, faces a significant challenge that keeps him vigilant: cybersecurity. This issue has become more pressing following a ransomware attack on Dallas' servers last year, prompting the city council to allocate approximately $2.7 million for IT security enhancements.
This year, personal data from around 73 million current and former AT&T account holders were leaked on the dark web. For Jayaram's team, this is one of many problems they tackle daily to adapt to the evolving needs of travelers.
American Airlines has developed two major tools to assist its operations: HEAT (Hub Efficiency Analytics Tool) and smart gating. HEAT aids in managing extreme weather events, while smart gating reduces taxi time. The IT team also addresses various questions ranging from payment methods for flights to ensuring baggage reaches connecting flights. Approximately 2,000 employees work at the Fort Worth headquarters and some at American’s Phoenix office. A collaborative "hangar" space supports major IT projects.