Aeroflot Group, Ural Airlines to switch to Russian Leonardo reservations system

MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - Aeroflot Group airlines and Ural Airlines will switch to Russia's Leonardo flight reservations system this year, according to a press release by the state Rostec corporation.

"Rostec and the state corporation's technology partner Sirena-Travel developed the domestic software. The system is designed to protect the personal data of passengers and replace foreign reservation services, the continued use of which poses risks for the passenger transport sector," Rostec said.

Aeroflot will make the transition to the Russian system this summer.

"The main system has a back-up system to connect airlines in an emergency and ensure the sector's stability in the event foreign suppliers suddenly refuse to fulfill their obligations. Emergency connection is possible within 24 hours," Rostec said.

Russia's biggest airlines have been using the services mainly of foreign reservation systems providers like Sabre of the U.S. and Spain's Amadeus and its subsidiary Navitaire. Sabre and Amadeus ended their distribution relationship with Aeroflot after Western sanctions were imposed against Russia.

A source told Interfax in March that the Aeroflot Group, S7 and Ural Airlines might sign deals with Russian providers before June, with tenders to find contractors held before May. The contractors would draft plans for airlines to make the transition to Russian systems before the end of October.

Reports said at the beginning of May that S7, which had used Amadeus for many years, had chosen the Russian partner JSC Online Reservation System.

Rostec said more than 50 companies used Leonardo, among them Red Wings, Aurora, Rusline, Yamal and UTair .