NP-SP-10 · SSIM File Management & Distribution

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Process Flow Diagram (BPMN)

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L4 Process Steps

Step	Step Name	Role / Swim Lane	System	Input	Output	KPI	Dec?	Exc?
Phase 1 1.1	Confirm seasonal schedule freeze milestone	Senior Network Planner	Amadeus SkyWORKS	Seasonal schedule deadline calendar; IATA scheduling conference date	Freeze confirmation memo; SkyWORKS workspace locked for SSIM export	Schedule frozen ≥8 weeks before IATA seasonal deadline	Y	N
1.2	Extract full flight schedule from SkyWORKS	Schedule Data Analyst	Amadeus SkyWORKS	Confirmed schedule freeze; all routes with equipment assignments and frequency patterns	Raw schedule export file (flights, equipment ICAO codes, times, frequencies, cabin configs)	Extract completeness ≥99.5% of scheduled flight legs	N	N
1.3	Validate schedule data completeness and codes	Schedule Data Analyst	Amadeus SkyWORKS	Raw schedule export file	Validated schedule dataset with exception log of missing or invalid fields	Data quality score ≥99% (missing or invalid fields <1% of records)	Y	Y
Phase 2 2.1	Generate SSIM Chapter 7 format file	Schedule Systems Engineer	Amadeus SkyWORKS	Validated schedule dataset	SSIM Chapter 7 formatted file with header, record types 1–4, and trailer	File generated within 4 business hours of schedule freeze confirmation	N	N
2.2	Run IATA SSIM syntax and schema validation	Schedule Systems Engineer	Amadeus SkyWORKS	SSIM Chapter 7 file	Validation report: pass/fail status with line-level error list	Zero critical format errors before external submission	Y	Y
2.3	Correct SSIM format errors and re-validate	Schedule Data Analyst	Amadeus SkyWORKS	Validation error report with line references	Corrected and revalidated SSIM file cleared for distribution	Error resolution cycle completed within 2 business days	N	N
Phase 3 3.1	Identify slot-controlled airports in schedule	Slot Coordinator	IATA WSG Slot Portal	Validated SSIM file; IATA Level 2 and Level 3 coordinated airport register	Slot request list by airport, season, and designated coordinator body	Slot request list submitted ≥4 weeks before IATA scheduling conference	N	N
3.2	Submit slot requests to airport coordinators	Slot Coordinator	IATA WSG Slot Portal	Slot request list; SSIM extract for the relevant airports	SLOT/S2 and SAL messages submitted to ACL (UK), COHOR (France), FAA ATCSCC (US), and regional bodies	Submission acknowledgement received from all coordinators within 5 business days	Y	Y
3.3	Reconcile slot confirmations against requests	Slot Coordinator	IATA WSG Slot Portal	Coordinator confirmation messages; original slot request register	Reconciliation report: confirmed vs. requested vs. denied slots with variance analysis	Slot hit rate ≥90% of requested times within ±30 minutes	Y	Y
Phase 4 4.1	Transmit SSIM to Sabre Schedule Distribution	Distribution Analyst	Sabre Schedule Distribution System (SDS)	Validated and slot-reconciled SSIM file	Sabre SDS ingest confirmation receipt with processing timestamp	Sabre display accuracy ≥99% within 48 hours of transmission	N	N
4.2	Transmit SSIM to Amadeus and Travelport GDS	Distribution Analyst	Amadeus GDS / Travelport GDS	Validated SSIM file	GDS ingest confirmation receipts from Amadeus and Travelport	Display accuracy ≥99% within 48 hours on both GDS platforms	N	N
4.3	Distribute schedule data to OAG and Cirium	Distribution Analyst	OAG Schedule Analyser	Validated SSIM file	OAG and Cirium data feed ingest acknowledgements	Schedule data live on OAG and Cirium within 72 hours of SSIM receipt	N	N
4.4	Verify GDS schedule display accuracy post-load	Distribution Quality Analyst	Sabre GDS / Amadeus GDS	Submitted SSIM file; post-load GDS availability and schedule displays	Display verification report: error rate by flight, equipment, and booking class	GDS display error rate <0.5% across sampled flights	Y	Y
Phase 5 5.1	Distribute SSIM to codeshare and interline partners	Alliance Operations Analyst	SITA STB (Schedule Transfer Bridge)	Validated SSIM file; interline and codeshare partner agreement register	SSIM sub-files transmitted to each codeshare and interline partner via SITA STB	Partner receipt confirmation received within 48 hours for ≥95% of partners	N	Y
5.2	Notify airports of schedule via IATA AHM 090	Airport Operations Coordinator	SITA AMS (Airport Management System)	Final confirmed schedule with slot allocations	AHM 090 schedule notification messages transmitted to all served airports	Airport acknowledgement received from ≥95% of notified airports within 5 business days	N	N
Phase 6 6.1	Archive versioned SSIM with change log	Schedule Data Analyst	AWS S3	Final SSIM file; amendment history register	Versioned SSIM archive in AWS S3 with structured change log (season, date, amendment number, changed flights)	100% version retention; any historical SSIM retrievable within 1 business hour	N	N
6.2	Manage mid-season SSIM amendment cycle	Schedule Data Analyst	Amadeus SkyWORKS	Network change requests; schedule irregularity reports; commercial re-routing decisions	Amendment SSIM file; updated GDS displays; re-notified partners and airports	Full amendment cycle (generate → validate → distribute → verify) completed within 5 business days	Y	Y

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Process Attributes

Identification

Process IDNP-SP-10

L1 DomainNetwork Planning & Scheduling

L2 ProcessSchedule Planning

L3 NameSSIM File Management & Distribution

L4 Steps17 across 6 phases

Decision Gates7 (all with iteration loops)

Exceptions7 documented

Swim Lanes (Roles)

Senior Network Planner

Schedule Data Analyst

Schedule Systems Engineer

Slot Coordinator

Distribution Analyst

Distribution Quality Analyst

Alliance Operations Analyst

Airport Operations Coordinator

Systems & Tools

Amadeus SkyWORKSIATA WSG Slot PortalSabre Schedule Distribution System (SDS)Amadeus GDS / Travelport GDSOAG Schedule AnalyserSabre GDS / Amadeus GDSSITA STB (Schedule Transfer Bridge)SITA AMS (Airport Management System)AWS S3

Key Performance Indicators

Confirm seasonal schedule freeze milestoneSchedule frozen ≥8 weeks before IATA seasonal deadline

Extract full flight schedule from SkyWORKSExtract completeness ≥99.5% of scheduled flight legs

Validate schedule data completeness and codesData quality score ≥99% (missing or invalid fields <1% of records)

Generate SSIM Chapter 7 format fileFile generated within 4 business hours of schedule freeze confirmation

Run IATA SSIM syntax and schema validationZero critical format errors before external submission

Correct SSIM format errors and re-validateError resolution cycle completed within 2 business days

Identify slot-controlled airports in scheduleSlot request list submitted ≥4 weeks before IATA scheduling conference

Submit slot requests to airport coordinatorsSubmission acknowledgement received from all coordinators within 5 business days

Airline-Specific Risks & Pain Points

SkyWORKS freeze locks the shared planning workspace; late changes require an emergency amendment process that triggers full GDS re-distribution

SkyWORKS export occasionally omits wet-lease and codeshare-operated segments, requiring manual reconciliation before SSIM generation

Missing IATA airport codes or unrecognised aircraft ICAO type codes cause SSIM Chapter 7 format rejection at downstream GDS ingestion

SkyWORKS SSIM output does not include non-IATA member charter operations; manual record append required, increasing error risk

SkyWORKS embedded IATA SSIM validator version lags IATA annual publication cycle by up to 6 months, causing false positives on new record type extensions requiring manual sign-off

Iterative correction loops frequently triggered by aircraft sub-fleet code changes (e.g. 73H vs 73W); no automated mapping maintained between SkyWORKS fleet types and SSIM equipment codes

Inputs / Outputs

Primary InputSeasonal schedule deadline calendar; IATA scheduling conference date

Primary OutputAmendment SSIM file; updated GDS displays; re-notified partners and airports

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