Aviation Systems Analyst

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as an Aviation Systems Analyst, where you will play a key role in supporting the development and implementation of our air travel solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Document requirements precisely and fully; create requirement specifications and work with suppliers to clarify requirements and evaluate their solution proposals
• Support testing and deployment of new developments; either test the development yourself (and report any issues back to the developers) or work with testers/business owners to do this
• Help prepare training materials ready to hand over to business users
• Analyse in detail how the following types of interfaces should be used to address business requirements, to the level of how each element is populated:
  • Real-time query/response (typically using HTML with XML or JSON, with or without SOAP)
  • Database-oriented, i.e. using queries to a relational database
  • File-oriented, typically using XML but sometimes delimited (e.g. CSV) or fixed-length ('flat') formats
  • Robotic, i.e. where a system emulates the actions of a human user, normally used with legacy systems where a more suitable interface is not available
• Recommend and specify exactly how a specific interface is to be used between two systems and be able to read/interpret example messages
• Use technical knowledge to read and interpret API messages exchanged with suppliers (e.g. SOAP, XML, JSON)
• Research, advise and recommend ways to support important business changes resulting from new technologies, such as IATA New Distribution Capability (NDC)
• Use understanding of finance operations, especially customer invoicing and payment and supplier settlement to analyse and specify necessary developments
• Use knowledge of and experience with Global Distribution Systems (GDS) to analyse process improvements and help resolve technical issues relating to:
  • Desktop tool, in both cryptic and graphical modes.
  • Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
  • Galileo Search Control Console (SCC) tool or another GDS's equivalent
• Use a strong knowledge of the following areas of the air sales process to improve business processes and assist with technical issue resolution:
  • Flight searching/shopping
  • Fare quote/pricing
  • Reservations, i.e. creation of the Booking File/PNR
  • Queue handling for post-booking changes, especially schedule changes and updates to ticketing time limits
  • Ticketing and BSP reporting

General Duties

• Actively champion and promote DERTOUR
• Incorporate the DERTOUR Code of Conduct principles into everyday work practices
• Continually develop personal knowledge and expertise, be pro-active and work with autonomy
• Fulfil team activities; attend regular team meetings and Divisional stand ups
• Maintain confidentiality of company and all customer information
• Ensure all health & safety legislation, company policies and GDPR guidelines are adhered to
• Be positive in undertaking any reasonable duties relevant to the position to ensure the success of the department

Requirements

• An advanced user of Microsoft Word and Excel and also familiar with Powerpoint, Visio and Microsoft Project
• At least a high-level understanding of current IT architecture approaches and networking (especially TCP/IP)
• Good knowledge of how the travel industry and especially tour operators work is essential, from commercial, operational and technical points of view
• A thorough appreciation of the commercial and technical issues involved in selling leisure air travel. The primary focus is on full-service/IATA carriers, but knowledge of low-cost carriers (LCCs) would also be very useful
• Experience of working with one or more major Global Distribution Systems (GDS)
• Experience of working with technical aggregators (e.g. Travelfusion)
• Experience with 'on demand' accommodation providers, i.e. where an online request is made for current availability and pricing (including Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and bedbanks e.g. Hotelbeds)

Desirable

• Knowledge of relational databases and query technology (i.e. SQL and reporting tools)
• A general understanding of current Internet/web technology
• Previous roles as a developer, systems tester or technical analyst
• Exposure to interface test tools such as SoapUI or Postman
• Experience with Travelport Galileo. Smartpoint, Travelport uAPI, Travelport Search Control Console
• An understanding of the different types of air fares (published, private, negotiated ...), fare rules/conditions and how access to non-published fares is controlled
• Any experience with Travelfusion
• Experience working with land content providers, e.g. cruise, car hire, rail, local services (transfers/excursions)
• Practical experience integrating payment processing into a sales system would be useful, along with back-office accounting systems and IATA BSP reporting, handoffs and reconciliation

Personal Qualities

• The analyst has to be able to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing
• A self-motivated achiever who gains satisfaction from meeting deadlines
• Ability to work under pressure, take ownership of issues, multitask and prioritise
• Strong, adaptable and resilient
• Good organisation with attention to detail

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work for the 'Best Place to work in Travel', with like-minded colleagues
• Competitive salary
• Perkbox - discounts and rewards programme
• Company matched pension scheme - up to 5% (for this level)
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays (increases with length of service)
• Enjoy your birthday off
• Free annual travel insurance, which includes your family and/or partner
• Long service bonuses
• Free eye tests
• Flexible hybrid working trial
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted Holidays and prize draws