British Airways (BA) wants to integrate its IT systems with other travel organisations to provide passengers with a door-to-door view of their entire journey direct to their PC or mobile device.

The airline says its use of new technologies such as service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web 2.0 signals the beginning of a more seamless, technology-enabled travel experience. It has already worked with airport operator BAA to integrate systems as part of the move to Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5) next year.

BA’s ambition is to use technology to ensure that passengers arrive at the airport ready to fly, cutting queues and simplifying travel. The BA.com web site already incorporates SOA, which could allow easy integration with other agencies such as Transport for London (TfL) and the Highways Agency.

‘We could then advise passengers of what is happening on the roads or the Tube as they are making their way to the airport,’ said information management programme head Glenn Morgan.

Using Web 2.0, BA could transmit information such as interactive maps to mobile devices. If integrated into T5’s systems, the airline could even book passengers on another flight if they are delayed.

The Highways Agency is keen to work with organisations such as BA to deliver personalised travel information, and is investigating how to best make its vast amounts of traffic data available to travellers quickly and simply.

‘Technology such as SOA and Web 2.0 is key to delivering this, but we are keen to share information and provide a more joined-up service,’ said director of information Denise Plumpton.

TfL says it is also working to make data available to consumers and businesses so that passengers can access information when they need it.

Streamlining check-in at T5 has been made possible because of the close integration of BA and airport operator BAA’s systems.

‘We are more closely integrated with BA than we are with any other airline,’ says BAA director of business critical systems Nick Gaines.

The two organisations have begun joint testing of T5’s systems. The terminal, which has more than 160 systems and 9,000 connected devices, is set to open on 27 March 2008.