What does FCA mean in UNCLASSIFIED

Forward Capacity Allocation (FCA) is an airline industry term that refers to the process of assigning seat capacity on flights to specific travel agents or other distribution channels in advance. It allows airlines to secure future bookings and manage their inventory more efficiently.

Airlines typically allocate a certain number of seats on each flight to specific travel agents or distribution channels based on historical data, sales performance, and market demand. These allocations are made in advance, often months or even years before the flight operates.

FCA offers several benefits for airlines, including:

• Improved revenue management: By allocating capacity in advance, airlines can optimize their pricing and ensure they are filling flights with paying passengers.
• Reduced risk: FCA helps airlines reduce the risk of empty seats and unsold inventory, as they have already secured bookings.
• Enhanced customer relationships: By providing reliable capacity to trusted distribution partners, airlines can build stronger relationships with them.

FCA can also benefit travel agents by:

• Providing guaranteed access to seats: Travel agents can secure capacity on specific flights for their clients, even during peak travel periods or for popular destinations.
• Competitive pricing: Airlines often offer favorable pricing to travel agents who commit to purchasing bulk capacity through FCA.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction: Travel agents can provide their clients with greater confidence that they will have access to the flights they need.

FCA is not the same as seat blocking. Seat blocking refers to the practice of airlines holding a certain number of seats on a flight for specific purposes, such as for frequent flyers or loyalty members. FCA, on the other hand, involves allocating seats to specific distribution channels for sale to the general public.