Alaska Airlines Selects Layer 7 to Enable Web and Mobile Strategy

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Layer 7 Technologies, the leader in Gateways for service-oriented integration, cloud connectivity and Web-to-mobile information sharing, has been selected by Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK), to provide security and management for the APIs behind the airline’s new iPhone application, Facebook implementation and air cargo tracking capabilities. The Layer 7 Gateway allows Alaska Airlines to securely deliver flight information, reservations, baggage, cargo and other services as APIs for consumption by third-party mobile and Web-based applications.

“Layer 7 provides enterprises like Alaska Airlines with an entirely on-premise way to control how developers and third-party applications interact with their APIs”

APIs are the building blocks software developers use to create new applications and online services that can be accessed over the Internet and from mobile devices. By exposing its APIs to third-party developers, Alaska Airlines is fostering the creation of third-party applications that greatly expand its market reach, help drive revenues and improve customer satisfaction. This growing API publishing trend offers a significant market opportunity for enterprises, but also poses security and management challenges that Layer 7’s Gateways can help address.

“Layer 7 provides enterprises like Alaska Airlines with an entirely on-premise way to control how developers and third-party applications interact with their APIs,” explained Phil Walston, vice president of products at Layer 7 Technologies. “The Layer 7 Gateway acts as an API proxy, combining enterprise-grade security controls, real-time API usage insight and the ability to centrally automate the migration of APIs across the extended enterprise, from development to quality assurance to production environments. Unlike other API management vendors that cater to start-ups, Layer 7 focuses on the most security- and performance-minded customers among the Fortune 1000.”

As an award-winning leader in the highly competitive U.S. national air travel market, Alaska Airlines differentiates itself based on exceptional customer satisfaction and innovative services. By opening its APIs to select partners, Alaska Airlines is enabling a new generation of value-added services for its commercial travelers, employees, cargo customers and other stakeholders. A number of applications have already been built, including:

Alaska Airlines App for the iPhone – the iPhone app streamlines how Alaska Air travelers check in and access their mobile boarding passes, get flight status details, select seats and track their mileage plans; an Android app is due out shortly
FlyingSocial^TM with Alaska Airlines – Facebook users can directly access Alaska Air travel offers of cheap fares for traveling to wherever their friends are located

Read more about Alaska Airlines’ case study on Layer 7’s Web site: http://www.layer7tech.com/case-studies/alaska-airlines-secure-mobile-api-publishing.

About Layer 7 Technologies

Layer 7 Technologies helps enterprises secure and govern interactions between their organization and the services they use in the cloud; across the internet; and out to mobile devices. Through its award-winning line of SOA Gateways, Cloud Brokers and API Proxies, Layer 7 gives enterprises the ability to control identity, data security, SLA and visibility requirements for sharing application data and functionality across organizational boundaries. With more than 150 customers spanning six continents, Layer 7 supports the most demanding commercial and government organizations. Layer 7 solutions are FIPS compliant, STIG vulnerability tested and have met Common Criteria EAL4+ security assurance.

About Alaska Air

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies^SM. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.