From Inventory Manager to Stock Keeper

Posted on 2023-08-06

In the world of modern airline retailing, the role of inventory is rapidly evolving. Historically, airlines acted as inventory managers, centrally controlling availability, fare buckets, and booking limits using legacy PSS-based systems.

However, with the transition to Offer and Order models and IATA’s Modern Airline Retailing program, airlines are now embracing the concept of being stock keepers - custodians of seat capacity while dynamic offers are created externally.

This aligns with IATA’s IBE Order principles, where:

• Offers are personalized and dynamically generated
• Orders become the source of truth, replacing PNRs and EMDs
• Availability becomes contextual, not static

This transformation paves the way for airlines to move from passive distribution to active retailing. Platforms from Sabre, Accelya, and Navitaire are already enabling this shift.