As an insurance executive in the airline industry, you know that system outages and delays can cause major disruptions to your business and customers. Recently, WestJet warned its customers of delays impacting “multiple airlines” due to an issue with its booking partner, Sabre, and a concurrent system outage with the Canada Border Service Agency. This event highlights the importance of having a plan in place to handle system outages and delays. In this post, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to handle these situations.

Step 1: Communicate with Customers

The first step in handling system outages and delays is to communicate with your customers. Use social media, email, and other communication channels to inform them of the situation and provide updates on the status of their flights. Be transparent and honest about the situation, and provide as much information as possible to help them make alternative arrangements if necessary.

Step 2: Assess the Impact

The next step is to assess the impact of the system outage or delay. Determine how many flights are affected, how many customers are impacted, and the potential financial impact on your business. This information will help you make informed decisions about how to handle the situation.

Step 3: Activate Your Contingency Plan

Every airline should have a contingency plan in place for handling system outages and delays. This plan should include procedures for rebooking customers, providing accommodations, and communicating with stakeholders. Activate your plan as soon as possible to minimize the impact of the outage or delay.

Step 4: Monitor the Situation

Once your contingency plan is in place, monitor the situation closely. Keep track of flight schedules, customer feedback, and any other relevant information. Use this information to make adjustments to your plan as needed.

Step 5: Learn from the Experience

After the system outage or delay has been resolved, take the time to learn from the experience. Conduct a post-mortem analysis to identify what went wrong, what worked well, and what could be improved. Use this information to update your contingency plan and improve your overall response to system outages and delays.

At Riskwolf, we understand the importance of being prepared for unexpected events in the airline industry. Our parametric insurance solutions can help you mitigate the financial impact of system outages and delays. With unique real-time data and dynamic risk modeling, we enable insurers to build and operate parametric insurance at scale. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you protect your business and customers.

Source: WestJet warns of delays impacting ‘multiple airlines,’ caused by outage concurrent with CBSA issue