RuAviation

Conviasa S.A., the Venezuelan airline, will host a centre of excellence in Latin America for the deployment of the Russian “Leonardo” airline booking system. This was announced by the press office of Rostec State Corporation.

“The system is being developed by RT-Project Technologies and Sirena-Travel. Conviasa S.A. already utilises a passenger service system, and its selection is both logical and the only feasible option for launching a regional hub. As part of this collaboration, a project office will be established to oversee the implementation of ‘Leonardo’ in other countries in the region,” Rostec stated.

“Leonardo” is a fully Russian-engineered system conforming to International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards. The system automates routine airline processes, encompassing booking, check-in, and passenger flow management. Venezuela is the first Latin American country to implement the Russian system. The contract with Conviasa S.A. for the supply of “Leonardo” was signed in April 2023.

To support the system’s rollout in the region, an omnichannel* contact centre operating in Spanish has been running since June 2024. The centre handles queries from agents and airline staff, and provides technical support for the booking system. With a population exceeding 400 million, Latin America presents significant growth potential for the system’s user base. Conviasa S.A. is already utilising “Leonardo” for passenger and baggage check-in on its Caracas-Moscow and Caracas-Havana routes.

“In Russia, ‘Leonardo’ is actively used by over 60 airlines, and has rapidly become the primary tool for passenger flow management on the domestic market. However, the system’s developers aren’t limiting themselves to the Russian market and are actively promoting it internationally. Key export destinations include Latin America, South-East Asia and the Middle East. The successful implementation of the system in Venezuela could serve as a prime example for other countries in the region,” Rostec noted.

The system’s functionality is continuously being expanded. In 2023, the ability to cross-redeem air miles from different airlines was added to “Leonardo”. A function to allow ticket purchases up until check-in closure and the option to select seats at all stages of the customer journey were also implemented.

In 2023, approximately 80.1 million passengers travelled via the “Leonardo” system, and this figure increased by 21% to reach 96.9 million journeys in 2024. Since its launch in 2022, the system has facilitated the processing of over 140 million passenger flights. The growth in user numbers testifies to the system’s reliability and high demand.

“The successful rollout of ‘Leonardo’ in Latin America could represent a significant step towards further expanding the presence of Russian technologies on the global air services market,” Rostec concluded.

*Omnichannel – a neologism describing a business strategy which implies seamless and effortless customer interactions, ensuring high quality of service both within and between channels.