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OAG (company)

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OAG
Type of businessPrivate company
Available inMultilingual
Founded1929; 95 years ago (1929)
HeadquartersLuton, England
Area servedEurope, North America, Asia, Australasia and Latin America
Key peoplePhil Callow, CEO[1]
IndustryAviation, Travel, Technology
ParentVitruvian Partners[2]
URLoag.com
Current statusActive

OAG is a global travel data provider with headquarters in the UK. The company was founded in 1929 and is operated in the USA, Singapore, Japan, Lithuania and China. It has a large network of flight information data including schedules, flight status, connection times, and industry references such as airport codes.[3][4][5]

Early history

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The "Official Aviation Guide of the Airways" was first published in February 1929 in the United States, listing 35 airlines offering a total of 300 flights. After the Guide was taken over by a rival publication in 1948, the September issue carried the OAG title for the first time. OAG was founded in Chicago, but moved to the suburb of Oak Brook, Illinois, in 1968.[6] The "ABC World Airways Guide" containing maps and tips for travellers was first published in the UK in 1946. The integration of the ABC and OAG brands occurred following the acquisition of OAG Inc. in 1993 by Reed Elsevier which already owned ABC International.[7] OAG had acquired SRDS, an ad rate information company from Macmillan Inc., a sister Maxwell company, in 1992; Reed Elsevier sold SRDS to a buyout firm in 1994.[8] In August 1996, all products from the combined ABC and OAG businesses were rebranded as OAG.

In 1958, advances in computer technology enabled flight schedules to be sorted and presented by city pair, instead of under separate sections for each airline timetable. This Quick Reference Edition initially included North American flights; starting in 1962 a separate International Quick Reference Edition covered the rest of the world. The two Timetable Editions continued in the traditional format for several more years; the last Worldwide Timetable Edition was in March 1969. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the OAG Quick Reference Editions began integrating computer-generated connecting flight information and tariff data, both also arranged by city-pair and merged with the flight information.

In 1962, OAG began providing data to the first computer reservation systems and produced its first customised timetable for airlines. That year, it was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet.[9] In 1970, OAG published its Pocket Flight Guide; it is still published today, in four regional versions. OAG participated in the development of the IATA Standard Schedules Information Manual (SSIM) for the interchange of airline schedules data. This was established in 1972 and is still the primary source of protocols and formats for the global airline industry. The OAG Electronic Edition was launched in 1983 and contained both flight and fare information. It was distributed through more than 20 system operators including Compuserve, Dow Jones and Viewtron. Additional databases (weather, arrival/departure information) were added in 1988. That year, Dun & Bradstreet sold OAG to Maxwell Communications.[10] The company produced the industry's first PC-based travel planning tool on CD-ROM in 1991, which was bundled with a plug-in CD drive, as those were rare at the time. OAG launched an analytical tool in 1998, and also its first browser-based travel information product. The Swedish CAA became its first internet timetable customer and the following year Cathay Pacific became the first airline to give its Frequent Flyer Club members online access to OAG Travel Information System through its website. OAG made its flight information available on the Palm VII wireless organizer in 1999, followed a few months later by its first WAP mobile phone application.

Recent history

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Reed Elsevier sold OAG to Electra Partners in 2001.[11] After five years under private ownership OAG was bought by United Business Media in December 2006 to strengthen its aviation, transportation and travel business interests. UBM sold the majority of its data business to Electra Partners in 2013, who formed AXIO Data Group.[12]

In 2009 OAG started to supply airlines schedules and Minimum Connection Time (MCTs) to Global Distribution Systems Travelport[13] and OAG also partners with the largest GDS in the world Amadeus[14][15] and TravelSky.[16]

In June 2010 OAG created new technology (Schedules Dynamic) to deliver the most up-to-date airline schedule changes to airlines, OTAs, GDSs and reservation systems.[17]

OAG has a strategic partnership with IATA[5] and contributes to its SSIM Standards Board[18] and working groups.[19]

In 2012, OAG launched OAG Analyser to deliver airline schedule analysis via an online accessible tool.[20][21][22] In 2013, OAG added to its analytical suite with the launch of Traffic Analyser, a product developed in partnership with Travelport; a leading distribution services and e-commerce provider for the global travel industry.[23][24][25]

In 2014, OAG acquired the services of real-time flight information solutions provider, Flight view, to expand its flight data business.[26][27][28] November 2015 saw OAG sell MRO Network, a provider of aviation exhibitions, conferences and publications to the MRO, fleet, financing and leasing sectors to Penton (now part of the Aviation Week Network, owned by Informa).[29]

In 2014, OAG began releasing its annual Punctuality League, which details the on-time performance of many of the world's largest airlines and airports.[30][31][32][33] OAG also releases annual analysis on the world's busiest and most profitable routes and airports.[34][35][36][37][38][39]

On 16 February 2017, OAG was bought by British investment firm Vitruvian Partners.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46]

In September 2018 OAG opened a technology development centre in Kaunas, Lithuania.[47]

In January 2020 OAG released its first data and analysis about the impact of COVID-19 on China and Asia with information on flights from Wuhan. OAG continues to release weekly analysis on the impact of the pandemic on the global aviation market.[48][49][50][51][52] The recovery tracker details changes to global seat capacity annually, by region and by aircraft.[53]

References

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  1. ^ "OAGsTeam". OAG. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Vitruvian Partners backs OAG management in buyout from AXIO". OAG. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  3. ^ "IATA Airline and Location Codes". www.iata.org. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Airline and Location Code Search". www.iata.org. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Directory of Strategic Partners". www.iata.org. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  6. ^ Morris, Steven. "Dun & Bradstreet to Sell Official Airline Guides". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  7. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (12 May 1993). "COMPANY NEWS; Maxwell Agrees to Sell Its Airline Guides Unit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  8. ^ "STRIPPED-DOWN SRDS FOCUSES ON CORE AD BIZ". Crain's Chicago Business. 9 December 1995. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  9. ^ "History of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation – FundingUniverse". Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  10. ^ Eichenwald, Kurt (31 October 1988). "Airline Guide Being Sold To Maxwell". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Europe firm to lead management buyout of OAG - Travel Weekly". Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  12. ^ UBM data service sale disappoints market
  13. ^ "Travelport GDS Selects OAG Airline Data Supply". Travel Agent Central. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Amadeus and OAG launch market-leading daily airline schedule updates for travel agencies". amadeus.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Travel Data Collective". traveldatacollective.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  16. ^ "OAG and TravelSky Increase Visibility of Chinese Airline Schedules". www.businesswire.com. 7 June 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  17. ^ "OAG Schedules Dynamic Provides Instant Airline Schedule Delivery". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Standard Schedules Information". www.iata.org. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Plan Standards Board". www.iata.org. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  20. ^ "OAG Launches Next Generation of Airline Schedules Analysis".
  21. ^ "OAG Launches Next Generation of Airline Schedules Analysis". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  22. ^ "OAG Launches Mapper, a New Network Analysis Mapping Tool". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  23. ^ "African Aerospace - OAG launches new analysis tool to assist route planners". www.africanaerospace.aero. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  24. ^ "OAG Launches Industry's Most Comprehensive Air Passenger Data and Analysis Tool". Routesonline. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  25. ^ "OAG launches comprehensive air passenger data and analysis tool". eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  26. ^ Peltier, Dan (20 January 2015). "OAG Acquires FlightView to Grow its Flight Data Business". Skift. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  27. ^ "OAG Acquires FlightView". Aviation Today. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  28. ^ Castellanos, Sara (23 January 2015). "Real-time flight tracking firm FlightView acquired by UK company". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  29. ^ "AviTrader – OAG to sell MRO Network business". 2 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  30. ^ Madden, Duncan. "The World's Most On-Time Airlines Ranked In 2019 Punctuality League". Forbes. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  31. ^ "These Are the Best Airlines and Airports for On-Time Flights". Bloomberg.com. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  32. ^ Baskas, Harriet. "Report reveals the world's most punctual airlines and airports". USA TODAY. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  33. ^ Reid, David (9 January 2018). "The world's most punctual airlines and airports in 2017 revealed". CNBC. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  34. ^ By Maureen O'Hare. "The world's best-connected airports for 2018". CNN. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  35. ^ "The World's Top 25 Most Connected Airports 2019 -". Corporate Travel Management. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  36. ^ Rosen, Eric. "The 2019 List Of Busiest Airline Routes In The World". Forbes. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  37. ^ Davies, Will (18 November 2020). "These are now the 10 busiest airline routes in the world". Traveller. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  38. ^ Leff, Gary. "Billion-Dollar Route: New York-London Is King of the Top 10 Airline Flights By Revenue". Forbes. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  39. ^ Frye, Jane. "The Top 10 Airline Routes by Revenue, According to OAG". The Points Guy UK. London: Red Ventures Europe. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  40. ^ "Vitruvian Partners backs OAG management in buyout from AXIO". Vitruvian Partners. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  41. ^ "Vitruvian buys aviation data giant OAG for $215 million | PhocusWire". www.phocuswire.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  42. ^ "Vitruvian Partners acquires TravelTech firm OAG for $215m". UKTN (UK Tech News). 16 February 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  43. ^ "Vitruvian Partners backs OAG management in buyout from AXIO". Vitruvian. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  44. ^ "OAG acquired by Vitruvian Partners". Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  45. ^ "AXIO Group announces sale of OAG to funds managed by Vitruvian Partners". Media Mergers. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  46. ^ "Vitruvian Partners acquires OAG – Financial News". Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  47. ^ "OAG success story in Lithuania". Invest Lithuania. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  48. ^ Moss, Trefor (20 February 2020). "Coronavirus Epidemic Puts Some Global Airlines on the Brink". The Wall Street Journal. Hong Kong: Dow Jones & Company. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  49. ^ "For airlines in freefall, the return route will be long and bumpy". Fortune. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  50. ^ "Nearly 2 Million Airline Seats Affected by New Travel Ban, according to OAG Analysis". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  51. ^ Davies, Will (17 November 2020). "These Are the World's Busiest Airline Routes During Covid Times". Bloomberg, L.P. New York. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  52. ^ Leff, Gary (17 November 2020). "The Busiest Airline Routes in the U.S. And The World Right Now". View from the Wing. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  53. ^ "Coronavirus: From the shops to the skies - tracking the UK economy's progress". Sky News. London. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
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