Q&A with Alex Mans, Founder and CEO of FLYR Labs

Can you provide a brief introduction about FLYR Labs and its core businesses?

FLYR Labs develops next-generation pricing and demand forecasting technologies for airlines and transportation businesses. Our purpose is to apply the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to help transportation leaders unlock their ultimate potential.

How did you come up with the idea to start FLYR Labs?

Originally, FLYR was founded to help consumers manage airline pricing volatility and save money. Then, as we got closer to the airlines themselves, we realised that these massive transportation companies could leverage our technology much better than consumers ever would. From there we transitioned to apply our technology directly to our transportation partners.

FLYR Labs recently signed an MOU to establish its first Middle East office in Doha, what drew you to selecting Qatar for your first Middle East office?

Our partnership with Invest Qatar enables FLYR to take advantage of its established presence in Qatar, Qatar’s dense transportation ecosystem, and support our expansion into markets such as rail, cargo, public transport, and shipping.

How important was access to a highly-skilled workforce to FLYR Labs’ decision to select Doha?

We are excited to help boost the city’s development and employment prospect for Qatari citizens. We will invest our resources towards the recruitment and training of AI and engineering talent in Doha, working in lockstep with some of Qatar’s largest businesses and education systems.

The pandemic has sped up the adoption of digital solutions by businesses, are you seeing this trend in the transportation sector?

Even before Covid, airlines were intent on digital transformation and beginning to adopt AI solutions. Airlines and other transport companies are now restructuring their organisations to be nimbler, expanding their data science teams and capabilities, and leveraging more advanced technologies for greater revenue and cost performance.

The aviation sector in particular has been severely impacted by the pandemic, how can FLYR Labs tools and services help airlines recover?

With FLYR, airlines can pinpoint opportunities to optimise revenue earlier than ever before. This insight supports wider commercial decision-making, such as marketing spend, cargo capacity, and flight planning, enabling airlines to drive revenue growth as they continue to recover.

Final question, when do you expect to open your office in Doha and how are your plans progressing?

We have started the incorporation process and will also begin securing office space. Partnerships with some of Qatar’s largest transportation businesses are already in the works, on the back of which we will start building local teams with the backing of our existing staff across the world.