Familiarization with OAG (Official Airline Guide)

 

Familiarization with OAG (Official Airline Guide)

1. Introduction

• OAG (Official Airline Guide) is the world’s leading provider of flight information and data services.
• Established in 1929 as a printed guide of airline schedules.
• Today, it is a digital platform used by airlines, airports, travel agents, tour operators, and tourism professionals.

 

2. What Does OAG Provide?

1.     Airline Schedules

o    Updated flight timetables of airlines across the world.

o    Includes details like flight number, departure/arrival time, frequency of flights.

2.     Flight Status

o    Real-time updates on delays, cancellations, diversions.

o    Helps in passenger handling and customer service.

3.     Connections & Routing

o    Provides possible flight connections and Minimum Connecting Time (MCT) between flights.

o    Very useful for planning long-haul journeys with stopovers.

4.     Analytics & Reports

o    Market trends, route performance, busiest airports/airlines.

o    Helps airlines and airports in decision-making.

5.     API & Technology Solutions

o    OAG offers APIs that can be integrated into booking systems, apps, and websites.

o    Travel companies use this to show accurate schedules and flight status to customers.

 

3. Importance of OAG in Tourism & Aviation

• For Airlines: Network planning, scheduling flights, competitor analysis.
• For Airports: Managing flight slots, analyzing passenger flow.
• For Travel Agents / Tour Operators: Providing customers with accurate and reliable flight options.
• For Corporate Travel: Ensures smooth business travel planning.
• For Tourism Students/Professionals:
• Understanding global air connectivity.
• Planning itineraries for clients.
• Gaining industry-level knowledge of how air travel is managed.

 

4. Example (Practical Use Case)

👉 Suppose a passenger wants to travel from Delhi to New York:

• OAG helps check:
• Direct vs. connecting flights.
• Airlines operating the route (Air India, United, Qatar Airways, Emirates, etc.).
• Best connection airports (e.g., Doha, Dubai, London).
• MCT (minimum connecting time) to avoid missed flights.
• This ensures the travel consultant can suggest the best route at the best time.

 

5. Benefits of OAG

• Provides accurate and real-time flight information.
• Helps in avoiding missed connections and delays.
• Useful for tourism planning, customer satisfaction, and efficient travel management.
• Builds professional credibility for travel agents and consultants