Viva Air sets its sights on becoming world’s first open data carrier

According to Air Transport World, Viva Air, through its innovation lab, is working with universities to develop new ways to improve the passenger experience and drive operational efficiency. The airline wants to become the world’s first open data carrier by sharing its information and analyses.

Alongside its innovation lab, the company aims to foster greater innovation in the airline industry by providing more transparent information and analyses.

Said Clyde Hutchinson, Head of Innovation at Viva Air Labs, “The airline industry has not typically been good with collecting and using data. We find that using and analyzing data is something that students are interested in—deciding what kinds of data are important and how to use it.”

“We use the data to project weather scenarios. In Colombia, we have the second highest density of lightning strikes worldwide,” added Mr. Hutchinson.

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Founded last year as the first airline innovation lab in the region, Viva Air Labs today has partnerships with 16 universities. The organization recently worked with the Dream Big Challenge, founded by NBA All-Star Pau Gasol, and Selina to host a 3 hour innovation competition, with over 100 in attendance in the city of Medellin.

Viva Air is the third-largest carrier in Colombia, and in Latin America it continues to innovate in the greater industry. The company’s largest shareholder, Declan Rylan, earlier spoke to Bloomberg, and mentioned that Viva Air may fly as many as 100 planes in the region within a decade.

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