Deepika Upadhyay – Aviation & Digital Products Leader

Aviation & Digital Products Leader

Deepika Upadhyay

"Architecting the Future of Airline Technology | Principal Solutions Manager at Amadeus | Ex‑Airbus"

"Driving enterprise‑scale airline transformation through product leadership, solution architecture, and global delivery excellence."

Executive Summary

Leadership at the Intersection of Aviation & Technology

A seasoned product leader and solutions architect with deep expertise in enterprise airline transformation. Specializing in transversal solution management, digital experience platforms, and cross-functional governance across global organizations.

Proven track record of leading multimillion-dollar airline programs, driving SaaS product roadmaps for 120+ airlines, and orchestrating large-scale PI planning and enterprise-level delivery across five countries — France, Germany, USA, India, and the UAE.

Combining aerospace engineering fundamentals with modern product strategy to deliver measurable business outcomes at the intersection of aviation and digital innovation.

12+

Years of Global Experience

5

Countries

90+

Engineers Led

120+

Airlines Served

Career

Professional Experience

A decade-plus journey across five countries, from aerospace engineering to enterprise-scale product leadership.

2024 – Present

Principal Solutions Manager – Etihad Airways Solution Center

Amadeus, Dubai (UAE)

  • Lead for transversal solutions, governance, and solution architecture across the Etihad program
  • Steering committee contributor and business objective discovery lead
  • Driving PI planning and enterprise-level delivery for complex airline transformation initiatives

2021 – 2024

Lead Product Manager – Digital Products

Amadeus Software Labs, India

  • Led SaaS call-center reservation platform & digital experience suite serving 120+ airlines globally
  • Chief PM for 90+ engineers across distributed development teams
  • Delivered global SaaS roadmap and "Contact Center of the Future" vision
  • Reduced airline call-center costs during COVID through rapid innovation and strategic pivots

2015 – 2021

Solutions Manager – Southwest Airlines Competency Center

Amadeus North America, USA

  • Led $50M group booking product (AGM/G3 & Big PNR) for major North American carriers
  • Delivered Air Canada Same-Day Change solution
  • SAFe transformation contributor across the organization

2013 – 2014

Product Development Analyst

Amadeus SAS, France

  • Functional analysis, feasibility studies, and technical specifications for airline products
  • Reduced defect backlog by 20% in two months through systematic triage and resolution

2013 – 2014

Project Engineer

Airbus, Germany

  • Designed structural components for the A350 XWB program using CATIA V5

2012 – 2013

Research Intern

Airbus Helicopters & ISAE-SUPAERO, France

  • Master thesis on polymeric foam simulation using Python for advanced composite materials research

Case Studies

Strategic Projects

Enterprise-scale initiatives delivering measurable business outcomes across the global aviation ecosystem.

Airline Front-Office B2B Platform

Business Challenge

Airlines needed a unified, modern booking platform to replace fragmented legacy systems across global markets.

Strategic Approach

Led cross-functional discovery, stakeholder alignment, and agile roadmap execution with distributed engineering teams.

Solution Delivered

Delivered a scalable SaaS B2B reservation platform serving 120+ airlines with real-time booking capabilities.

Quantified Impact

Increased agent productivity by 35% and reduced average handling time by 20 seconds per transaction.

Unified Agent Platform for Proactive Support

Business Challenge

Customer service agents operated across siloed tools, leading to slow resolution and poor traveler experience.

Strategic Approach

Designed a unified agent desktop consolidating booking, disruption management, and customer data into a single view.

Solution Delivered

Built an integrated platform with real-time alerts, proactive rebooking, and AI-assisted recommendations.

Quantified Impact

Reduced call resolution time by 40% and improved CSAT scores by 18 points during disruption events.

Modern Airline Retailing – Offer & Order

Business Challenge

Airlines required migration from legacy PNR-based systems to modern offer-and-order retailing aligned with IATA NDC standards.

Strategic Approach

Championed product strategy and cross-functional alignment between commercial, engineering, and airline stakeholders.

Solution Delivered

Delivered NDC-compliant offer creation and order management capabilities integrated with existing PSS infrastructure.

Quantified Impact

Enabled 15+ airlines to pilot next-generation retailing, unlocking ancillary revenue streams worth $200M+ annually.

Digital Commerce APIs & Contact Center UI

Business Challenge

Airline digital channels lacked API-first architecture, limiting omnichannel commerce and self-service capabilities.

Strategic Approach

Defined API strategy, UX benchmarking, and phased delivery roadmap with continuous airline validation.

Solution Delivered

Launched a suite of RESTful commerce APIs and a modern contact center UI enabling seamless digital-first experiences.

Quantified Impact

Accelerated airline digital adoption by 50%, reducing dependency on traditional distribution channels.

Enterprise Roadmapping for 120+ Airlines

Business Challenge

Managing a unified product roadmap across diverse airline requirements, regional regulations, and competitive pressures.

Strategic Approach

Established a governance framework with quarterly PI planning, airline advisory boards, and data-driven prioritization.

Solution Delivered

Created a scalable roadmapping process balancing innovation, compliance, and customer-driven enhancements.

Quantified Impact

Achieved 95% on-time delivery of roadmap commitments and increased airline satisfaction scores by 22%.

Credentials

Certifications & Accreditations

PMP

Project Management Institute

SAFe 5 Agilist

Scaled Agile, Inc.

Pragmatic Marketing – Level IV

Pragmatic Institute

Competent Communicator

Toastmasters International

Competent Leader

Toastmasters International

Product Management

Professional Development

Design Thinking

Professional Development

AI Agents for Product Leaders

AI & Product Strategy

Expertise

Core Competencies

Product Leadership & Strategy

Product RoadmappingStakeholder ManagementBusiness Case DevelopmentGo-to-Market StrategyOKR Frameworks

Solution Architecture & Enterprise Delivery

Solution DesignPI Planning (SAFe)Cross-functional GovernanceEnterprise IntegrationProgram Management

Airline Systems

PSS (Passenger Service System)NDC / ONE OrderNevio PlatformLoyalty & AncillaryDisruption Management

Digital Platforms

REST APIsContact Center UISaaS ProductsB2B PlatformsOmnichannel Commerce

AI & Emerging Tech

Agentic AIMicrosoft CopilotGPT-4 ApplicationsAI for Product StrategyIntelligent Automation

Cloud & Engineering

Azure MigrationUX BenchmarkingCATIA V5Python SimulationTechnical Specifications

Education

Academic Foundation

Master's in Aerospace Engineering

ISAE-SUPAERO

Toulouse, France

Specialized in structural mechanics and composite materials. Master thesis on polymeric foam simulation.

Bachelor's in Aeronautical Engineering

Anna University

Chennai, India

Foundation in aerodynamics, propulsion, and aircraft structural design.

Global Footprint

International Experience

Operating across five countries and multiple cultures, bringing a truly global perspective to enterprise delivery.

France

Product Development · Research

Germany

Aerospace Engineering

USA

Solutions Management

India

Product Leadership

UAE

Principal Solutions Manager

Communication

Languages

English

Native

Bengali

Native

Tamil

Native

Telugu

Native

French

Intermediate

German

Beginner

Community

Professional Affiliations

Women in Aviation – Middle East

Advocating for diversity and inclusion in the aviation industry across the Middle East region.

Project Management Institute

Active PMP-certified member contributing to project management best practices globally.

Toastmasters International

Competent Communicator and Leader, honing executive communication and public speaking skills.

Get in Touch

Let's Connect

Open to conversations about product leadership, aviation technology, and enterprise transformation.