Alaska Airlines and UP.Labs last year formed a partnership designed to solve business challenges through innovation. They have now announced their first new startup – Odysee.
Odysee, which launched with $5 million in seed funding led by UP.Partners, is focused on lending powerful Artificial Intelligence and computing power to inform real-time trade-off decisions in planning for and managing operational logistics, starting with scheduling. The platform will ensure the best use of each aircraft asset and the interconnections between them, empowering teams to more effectively optimise one of the most complex areas of an airline’s business.
“As CEO and a former COO, I know that configuring an airline to use each airplane optimally is a key lever for operational reliability, a remarkable travel experience for our guests, and maximising revenue,” said Ben Minicucci, CEO, Alaska Airlines. “I am thrilled that Odysee, the first company launched through our partnership with UP.Labs, leverages Artificial Intelligence to help our teams put our airplanes in the right place, at the right time.”
The partnership between UP.Labs and Alaska Airlines was established as part of Alaska Star Ventures, Alaska Airlines’ investment arm, and is aligned with Alaska’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Over the next three years, the partnership will launch additional startups focused on solving key challenges in aviation and mobility.
“What sets Odysee apart is its ability to help airline schedulers assess the various trade-offs that come with certain schedule changes, allowing them to make more informed choices in building comprehensive flight schedules,” said Steve Casley, Chief Executive Officer, Odysee. “Our team is excited about the power and efficiency this technology will provide to Alaska Airlines and all future customers and the opportunity to continue building out its functionality.”
UP.Labs is a venture lab and a core part of the UP.Partners ecosystem, which also includes mobility investment fund UP.Ventures and the UP.Summit, an invite-only mobility event that brings together 300 of the world’s most innovative minds rethinking the future of transportation.
“The launch of Odysee marks an exciting milestone, uniting the strengths of UP.Labs and Alaska Airlines to create a startup that revolutionises how flight schedules are built, analysed and optimised,” said John Kuolt, Founder and CEO, UP.Labs. “By combining our expertise and shared vision, we’re paving the way for new opportunities, driving growth, and setting a new standard in our industry.”
Hear more from Alaska Airlines at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” – taking place in Los Angeles on 28-30 October 2024. Natalie Bowman, Managing Director, Product & Digital Experience, Alaska Airlines, is speaking in the ‘FTE AI Symposium’ with a case study titled ‘How will Alaska Airlines use AI to increase productivity, transform customer experiences, streamline operations, remove manual toll and drive revenues, and what can it learn from those efforts?’
Meanwhile, Kristin Olsen, Director of Product Management, Travel Experience Guest Digital Technology, Alaska Airlines, is joining the ‘Digital Identity & Biometrics Symposium – building compelling business cases for a global industry roll-out’.
Explore the full FTE Global 2024 schedule at a glance here >>
Register for FTE Global 2024 >>
