American Airlines' IT chief discusses cybersecurity challenges and technological advancements

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GLOBAL INDUSTRY NEWS

By Sky Industry News

Jul 9, 2024

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.

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The Dallas Morning News interviewed Jayaram, who joined American in September 2022, about ongoing challenges and new tools being developed by the airline. This interview has been edited for clarity.

Regarding recent operational disruptions faced by airlines like Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines due to technical issues, Jayaram emphasized preparation and quick recovery. “You look for people who have gone through high levels of complexity in their daily work,” he said. He highlighted investments in technology as crucial for building resilience and minimizing downtime.

Jayaram noted that his leadership team reviews incidents weekly to learn from them and implement process changes or technological solutions to prevent recurrence. He mentioned a 30% annual reduction in app outages since 2022 as part of their continuous improvement efforts.

On cybersecurity threats, Jayaram stressed the importance of resilience against both internal changes and external attacks. “We consider ourselves a critical infrastructure to the nation,” he said, adding that vigilance is essential due to increasing sophistication among cybercriminals.

When asked about future technology advancements like AI and the metaverse, Jayaram acknowledged their potential but emphasized privacy concerns and regulatory constraints. He pointed out that American Airlines has been using AI for years to manage complex operations involving thousands of flights daily.

Discussing peak travel seasons, Jayaram reiterated that preventing technology-related disruptions is paramount. “What keeps me awake at night is to ensure that technology is not the cause for our operation’s underperformance or for our customers having a poor experience,” he stated.

He concluded by highlighting rigorous testing of system resiliency during critical periods and close collaboration with vendors to maintain smooth operations during peak travel times.

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