Mexicana Airlines returns to Unisys after five months on competing reservation system

Business Wire, Jan 31, 1995

BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 1995--To improve customer service and revenue, Mexicana Airlines has switched back to Unisys Corp. for its passenger reservation and departure control computer systems.

This turnabout comes only five months after the airline switched to the IBM-based BaBs (British Airways Booking System) reservation system.

Mexicana gave Unisys the order to begin work converting back to the Unisys USAS Reservation system in October. A team of Unisys and Mexicana engineers completed the complex project, which included converting Mexicana's passenger record database and connecting a network of some 3,000 end users, in just three weeks.

The Unisys USAS Reservations System was restarted on Nov. 19, 1994, processing more than one million transactions the first day.

"The conversion back to Unisys was a resounding success and a major accomplishment in an extremely short period of time," said Javier Perez Mazatan, Mexicana Airlines vice president of MIS.

Mexicana purchased its Unisys USAS Reservation system in 1990. The Mexico City-based airline ranks third in revenue passenger kilometers among Latin American and Caribbean carriers, according to the June 1994 edition of Air Transport World, an airline industry publication. Since the restoration of the Unisys USAS Reservation system, Mexicana has experienced 100 percent system availability.

"There is no stronger endorsement and validation of Unisys airline expertise and commitment than this," said Dennis Christ, president, Unisys Transportation Line of Business. "Mexicana had to rapidly improve its financial position and chose the Unisys USAS Reservation system to achieve its goals."

Unisys is a leading provider of information technology and services to the airline industry. Today, 16 of the world's 25 leading carriers -- 140 overall -- depend on Unisys automated solutions for passenger and cargo reservations.

Unisys is recognized as the only major IT supplier to develop, market and support a comprehensive family of standard automated solutions for the airline industry. -0- Unisys is a registered trademark, and USAS is a trademark, of Unisys Corp.

CONTACT: Unisys Corp., Blue Bell

Steve Holzman, 215/986-5098