AVGEEK
The software running behind the flight
Somit Goyal of IBS Software examines legacy systems, airline retailing and the transition to cloud-based operations.
The conversation
Every time you book a flight, check in online, or reserve an in-flight sleeping pod, there is a high-tech engine working silently behind the curtain. In Episode 78 of The Indian AvGeek , host Vishal Mehra sits down with Somit Goyal , CEO of IBS Software.
Bringing an enterprise tech background from Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle, Somit shares a frank assessment of aviation's legacy technology debt, why NDC is merely an infrastructure "plumbing fix," and how cloud-native, AI-first architectures are transforming commercial and flight operations globally.
In this episode, they dive into real-world case studies:
Korean Air: Migrating live flight operations ("open-heart surgery while running a marathon"). Air New Zealand: Powering ground-breaking Skynest sleep pods using iRetail. Indian Carriers: Shifting from treating IT as a cost center to leveraging software as a strategic differentiator.
Key Takeaways
- Somit describes NDC as an infrastructure “plumbing fix” within aviation’s wider legacy technology challenge.
- Korean Air provides the case study for migrating flight operations while those operations remain live.
- Air New Zealand’s Skynest illustrates how iRetail supports a new onboard product.
- The discussion examines Indian carriers’ shift from treating IT as a cost centre to using software as a strategic differentiator.