Aviation has always been at the forefront of leading-edge technology. While the Embraer Jets we fly are still mechanical marvels, Aviation tech has expanded far beyond the mechanical. Learn how Republic Airways has incorporated technology into everything we do with insight from our Chief Information Officer, Matt Belanger.
“Tech used to be isolated,” Matt explains. “Information Technology would be siloed within a department.” As airlines grew more and more technologically complex, IT became woven into every single aspect of operations. “IT has become not only a key strategic enabler for Republic, but also a core aspect of our competitive advantage.”
“Maintenance, flight planning, fuel management, scheduling — these all used to be independent applications,” Matt says. “You would have to find ways to synthesize all of that information across multiple departments and teams. By unifying the data, we’re able to gain insights that were not previously available to us.”
Republic operates about 1,000 daily flights across the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Central America. That’s millions of data points that need to be analyzed every single day. “Our centralized hub allows us to pull information from every aspect of the airline to identify patterns, streamline processes and provide better context for making more informed decisions,” says Matt.
That’s great in theory, but how does all of this data actually improve Republic operations? One area where technological integration continues to improve is safety. Safety is paramount to the culture at Republic Airways and our integrated flight operations suite only reinforces our dedication.
The Crews are constantly changing on aircraft, and jets are often serviced at different bases. All of that change can make it difficult to notice patterns. By pulling all that information into one hub, we’re able to understand the context in which maintenance is applied. For instance: “An oxygen leak can be addressed by routine servicing, preventing a future out-of-service event,” Matt says. “We can prevent a routine issue from becoming a larger, service-impacting event. That real-time information gives us the context needed to find the safest solution, whether it’s an oxygen leak, brake pads, sensors or any other part of our fleet, large or small.”
Integrating technology into all of our operations also helps us improve our commitment to sustainability. “With improved flight planning, we’re able to more accurately manage our fuel resources,” Matt says. “It takes everything into account: weather, scheduling, flight traffic, delays and so much more. With that information, we’re able to better plan our flights, minimizing excess fuel and reducing consumption.”
Technology doesn’t only improve our flight operations but also improves the efficiency and quality of life for Associates across all departments. “The CrewLife app we developed for our Associates helps Crew better manage their life through scheduling, pay and more,” Matt explains. “A storm in Kansas might affect our Crew in Boston, and that affects the schedules and pay for our Crew. With CrewLife, Associates get up-to-date information about all of that right on their phones.”
With our dedicated airline crew applications, we provide our crew members with a convenient and personalized travel experience with real-time flight statuses, delays and changes, keeping them always well informed while increasing effectiveness. Additionally, by prioritizing both scalability and disaster recovery in our IT core environment, we can build resilience, improve operational efficiency and enhance the overall passenger experience.
Technological integration touches every department and every Associate, and Republic will continue to invest in the future and focus on sustainable innovation. “Our centralized hub is constantly evolving,” says Matt. “We’re going to continue optimizing our systems and improving connections and collaboration for our Airline.”
Republic Airways was recently recognized for our investment in technology at the 2025 Mira Awards presented by TechPoint. For Matt, it was an honor to receive the Tech Company of the Year award. “Our IT team is a diverse group of about 75 folks. It’s their passion that has allowed us to find such success assimilating technology into our business.” This is the second time Republic Airways has been recognized by TechPoint at the Mira Awards.
“Through integrated technology, we’re able to improve safety outcomes, improve sustainability, improve cost-effectiveness, improve the lives of our Associates and improve the flying experience for our passengers,” Matt says. “And we still have work to do.”
If you’re interested in how Republic Airways is investing in tech and our award-winning outcomes, click here.