Fuel efficiency in cargo aviation is undergoing a major transformation, and Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) is leading the way. ✈️📦 When their previous fuel efficiency system reached the end of its service, NCA launched a strategic search for an advanced fuel efficiency platform. The result? A smooth and successful transition to SkyBreathe®, supported by a powerful benchmarking capability for cargo operations.
Meet Kenji Ida, Project Manager in the Operations Planning Department at NCA, as he shares the journey of the Japanese cargo airline as it selected and implemented SkyBreathe®.
In this interview, he explains why the platform stood out during the evaluation phase, how the implementation unfolded, and how data-driven decision-making is becoming central to their operational strategy..
Before adopting SkyBreathe®, how were you managing fuel efficiency? What challenges pushed you to start looking for a solution?
Previously, we used another company's fuel efficiency system, focusing primarily on flight operations by flight crew to improve fuel efficiency. However, when that system's service termination was decided, we began searching for a new system, this was the reason we discovered SkyBreathe®.
What convinced you that SkyBreathe® was the right fit for NCA?
We compared several systems and ultimately narrowed it down to two providers based in Asia, ensuring support without time zone concerns.
Among these, SkyBreathe® stood out significantly. Its benchmarking feature allows comparison with other cargo airlines, not only generating new fuel-saving ideas but also providing ongoing motivation for continuous improvement.
For us, seeking to improve fuel savings efficiently with limited resources, it felt like the most suitable system.
How did the implementation process go, from kick-off to go-live?
The process leading up to system acceptance was extremely smooth. Using a project management tool, we advanced by sharing issues, confirming milestones, and adjusting schedules during weekly meetings.
The OpenAirlines team's support was thorough, allowing us to proceed with implementation preparations with confidence.
Now that SkyBreathe® is in place, what are the next steps in NCA's strategy for deploying and using the platform?
Visualizing the past year's data has let us clearly identify areas with significant fuel-saving potential. We plan to focus our efforts on these areas first.
Meanwhile, comparing our past fuel-saving activities with other companies confirmed we've achieved solid results. We intend to continue these efforts moving forward.
What advice would you give to other managers or directors who are evaluating a fuel efficiency solution?
OpenAirlines' proactive approach to aligning with our goals and advancing together is truly reassuring. Although we've only had the system for a few months, we are very satisfied with the quality of support.
When we submit questions via tickets, support staff worldwide respond quickly around the clock.
If you had to summarize your experience with SkyBreathe® in one sentence, what would it be?
We feel that operational decisions, which previously relied on experience and intuition, can now be made based on data. We believe an era is coming where data-driven decision-making will become standard practice in operational settings.
Any final thoughts you’d like to share with the airline community?
Through SkyBreathe®, we aim to expand the community of fuel efficiency. We hope that by sharing data and collaborating, the entire aviation industry can advance toward sustainable development.
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