Information Design One (IDO) is scaling up the global rollout of its aFuel digital aircraft refueling platform with new operational developments in Australia and the Czech Republic. Melbourne International Airport is the second Australian airport to offer the solution, with a second refueling service provider at Prague Airport also adopting the technology.

Melbourne joins Australia’s digital refueling network

A Fuel was introduced at Melbourne International Airport in partnership with Skytanking, an into-plane fueling service provider. The deployment enables airlines already familiar with the platform, including Cathay Pacific and Finnair, to digitally manage their aircraft refueling operations at Australia’s second-largest airport.

Skytanking uses the aFuel Apron App to communicate with carriers and allows digital exchanges during the refueling process.

Information Design One chief executive Julia Büchner said the Australian market was important to the company’s expansion strategy. She said she was pleased to see the platform arrive in Melbourne, noting that Perth was the first Australian airport to adopt aFuel.

The company will expand its national footprint and increase the number of airports where the solution is provided.

Second refueling provider arrives at Prague Airport

Elsewhere, aFuel is breaking new ground at Prague Airport in the Czech Republic. Information Design One has started cooperation with Czech Airline Handling, the second refueling service provider at the airport to use the platform.

The deployment includes the integration of Fuelomat, Novum Global’s IPA dispatch software, which is already in use by Czech Airline Handling.

“Fuelomat has been integrated into aFuel in the same way that other applications have been integrated,” Büchner said. She noted that the platform is flexible and allows different stakeholders to connect their existing IT systems while still having access to the whole platform.

This interoperability, the CEO said, is also one of aFuel’s main competitive advantages, as the solution is the only one in the world that is able to provide this level of integration.

Aviation technology with an operational efficiency focus

aFuel is a single digital platform developed by Information Design One, a Frankfurt-based aviation technology provider, to help airlines improve aircraft refueling operations.

The company says the solution provides optimized operational processes, lower associated costs and a substantial reduction of refueling-related delays during aircraft turnaround operations.

The latest deployments in Melbourne and Prague see IDO further extend the platform’s international footprint, and enhance digital coordination between airlines and aircraft fuel service providers.