Statistics
Airline: Japan Airlines
Regions served: Asia, Americas, Europe and Oceana
Fleet Size: 250+ Aircraft
Priority: Fuel Accounting
Japan Airlines (JAL) is a major airline and Japan’s flag carrier and largest airline. Headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, it services 220 destinations in 35 countries and has over 270 aircraft.
JAL group companies include Japan Airlines, J-Air, Japan Air Commuter, Japan Transocean Air, and Ryukyu Air Commuter for domestic feeder services, and JAL Cargo for cargo and mail services.
"You get a quick answer and a precise answer every time you ask. We don’t usually get that from other vendors."
Taro Motogami
Project Manager, JAL
IJapan Airlines (JAL) implemented our platform to help handle its accounting process for fuel. They had previously used a system built by its in-house IT provider, but this had to be retired.
Taro Motogami, Project Manager for JAL, explains: “We used an in-house system for importing fuel tickets, calculating accruals related to fuel, for monthly closing and to check that fuel invoices were correct. However, this in-house system had poor documentation, so we weren’t able to add new functions to it. Therefore, we began searching for a replacement system that would perform all of the same fuel accounting functions.”
Trust and cost were key factors
JAL’s initial search ended in major disappointment. After selecting a vendor, the project went significantly over budget and the airline were not even confident that the technology would work at the end of the implementation. As a result, they stopped the project partway through.
This unfortunate experience shaped JAL’s selection criteria second time around. “When we talked to the Skymetrix* representative, we were confident that he would not let us down,” said Taro. “He had the knowledge and expressed himself well. Afterwards, we found out that he was the CEO, Klaus-Peter Warnke.”
“Cost was a large factor too. The implementation cost quoted was very low compared to other vendors. Usually that would make us worry but Klaus-Peter obviously knew about the fuel management industry and what is important.”
"These features are making our jobs easier
and saving us time."
Taro Motogami
Project Manager, JAL
Delivered on time and on budget
This time, JAL felt they had clearly chose the right partner:
“We were able to finish the project within the original budget and schedule, which was really great,” says Taro.
When asked why he felt the implementation had gone so smoothly, he replied: “Because everyone in Skymetrix is so talented and organized. Everyone is very knowledgeable about the application and also what is needed in aviation fuel accounting. There are experts in the systems that provide source data, such as ACARS, as well as experts in middleware and hardware. You get a quick answer and a precise answer every time you ask. We don’t usually get that from other vendors.”
The benefits of automation
The platform has also enabled JAL to automate aspects of their fuel accounting process that hadn’t previously been possible. Taro explains:
“When fuel suppliers send in electronic invoices now, they automatically import into the platform. Also, the system automatically calculates the unit price at every fuel station. Before we had to calculate this manually using Excel. These features are making our jobs easier and saving us time.
*At the time this case study was conducted the previous brand, FuelPlus, was in operation. The name has been retrospectively updated in the customer’s account and all original parties are still in operation at Skymetrix.
Inspired by JAL’s story?
Talk to our team today and find out if you can achieve similar success.
Kobus Bezuidenhout
Principal Customer Success Manager, Skymetrix
