Forthcode
Forthcode is an aviation-focused SaaS provider offering the nGO platform for inflight retail, catering management, AI-driven operations, and premium passenger monetization, serving low-cost and full-service carriers globally with multi-year enterprise contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBangalore, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Forthcode firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forthcode
- Legal name
- Forthcode Technologies India Private Limited
- Website
- https://forthcode.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Forthcode is an aviation-focused SaaS provider offering the nGO platform for inflight retail, catering management, AI-driven operations, and premium passenger monetization, serving low-cost and full-service carriers globally with multi-year enterprise contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forthcode industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation SaaS / Inflight Retail and Catering Software
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interlining, Codeshare & Settlement (Proration/Revenue Accounting) (THALABAI)
Keywords
Where Forthcode is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bangalore
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Forthcode business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Multi-year SaaS subscription for nGO platform: Recurring SaaS revenue from licensing the cloud-hosted nGO Inflight Retail and Catering Management platform to airlines, delivered as multi-year commercial engagements with structured implementation and ongoing support (e.g., Air India Express multi-year commercial engagement; 'We are a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform provider').
- Transaction-based inflight payment and LITS revenue: Transaction-driven revenue from LITS (Lounge in the Sky) card-linked entitlement redemptions, inflight payment processing via Worldline Android POS, and premium upsell flows (meals, upgrades, Wi-Fi sold via points or sponsorships). Revenue scales with onboard transaction volume and partner-bank sponsored offers.
- Professional services and implementation: Implementation, configuration, integration, and post-go-live audit services bundled with platform deployments (e.g., train-the-trainer crew enablement at Akasa Air for ~250 crew members, on-ground post-implementation audits at Air India Express).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise contract — quote-based, multi-year engagement |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Forthcode product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forthcode provides a cloud-hosted, multi-tenant SaaS platform called nGO that delivers inflight retail, offline card payments, catering management, and agentic AI capabilities purpose-built for commercial airlines. The platform is sold via multi-year enterprise subscriptions and bundled with implementation, training, and post-go-live support to low-cost and full-service carriers globally.
Product overview
Forthcode offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its flagship nGO inflight digital platform, with named modules tailored to distinct airline segments and use cases. The core platform comprises nGO for LCC (inflight retail and inflight payment system for low-cost carriers) and nGO for FSC (enterprise-grade catering management automation for full-service carriers), both of which automate inflight retail, catering, inventory reconciliation, IROP handling, and ERP/PSS/CRSS integrations. Layered on top is nGO AI (an AI agent/copilot for airline ground staff, with DAViX as the Air India Express-branded deployment and the nGO AI CoPilot co-launched with PXCom) that brings multilingual voice/text intelligence over SOPs, DGCA regulations, and ancillary queries. LITS (Lounge in the Sky) is a separate patented digital platform for monetizing premium cabin and lounge experiences via card-linked entitlements. Together, these products cover inflight commerce, catering management, AI-driven operations, and premium passenger experience for airlines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- nGO (nGO for LCC, nGO for FSC, nGO AI): Flagship inflight digital platform offering inflight retail, catering management, and AI agent capabilities for low-cost and full-service carriers.
- LITS (Lounge in the Sky)
- DAViX (Digital Aviation Intelligence eXchange)
Products and services
- nGO for LCC Cloud-hosted inflight retail and inflight payment system for low-cost carriers that automates IROP handling, inventory reconciliation, offline card payment sync, smart catering planning, and personalized upselling. Designed to keep LCCs profitable even midair.
- nGO for FSC Enterprise-grade catering management automation for full-service carriers that automates meal planning, caterer coordination, billing, waste tracking, multi-cabin menus, SLA enforcement, and vendor invoice handling. Makes day-to-day operations smooth for airline teams and caterers.
- nGO AI (AI Agents) AI chatbot and copilot for airline ground staff, operations, DGCA regulations, IROP protocols, and ancillary queries. Trained on the airline's own SOPs and systems, supports voice and text in over 50 languages, and improves customer experience (NPS), compliance, and ancillary revenue.
- LITS (Lounge in the Sky) Patented digital platform that brings airport lounge experiences inflight through real-time, card-linked entitlements, helping airlines monetize unsold premium inventory, offer curated upgrades and luxury perks, and track partner-bank benefits with multi-currency and local-card support.
- DAViX (Digital Aviation Intelligence eXchange) Air India Express-branded deployment of Forthcode's nGO AI Copilot. An AI Copilot providing a unified intelligence layer across airport operations, flight coordination, compliance, and service recovery, supporting voice- and text-based interaction.
- nGO AI CoPilot (with PXCom) AI-powered system co-developed with PXCom that plugs into PXCom's full digital journey ecosystem to provide airlines with real-time intelligence across airport operations, flight control, ancillary services, and regulatory compliance, supporting voice and text interfaces in multiple languages.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3x increase in inflight ancillary revenue (Air India Express, AirAsia India, Akasa Air case studies)
- +10 more outcomes
Companies that use Forthcode
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Forthcode technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability12 records
Feature8 records
Forthcode partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship — co-developed ai product launched at apex fte asia expo, flagship — flagship payments partnership enabling android pos in-flight payments across india, flagship — global oem integration with teac's ps-v50 gen2 streaming server, flagship — global delivery and geographic reach partnership, core — primary pss integration for airline customers (air india express, goair, airasia india), core — finance/erp integration for tax, incentive, and invoicing workflows, core — crew rostering system integration at akasa air and airasia india, core — crew-related workflow integration at air india express, minor — partner logo shown across forthcode product pages and customer stories, minor — partner logo referenced in forthcode ecosystem and not a partnership — historical employer reference only.
- PXComflagship — co-developed ai product launched at apex fte asia expoCo-developed and debuted the nGO AI CoPilot at the 2025 APEX FTE Asia EXPO on Nov 14, 2025. The AI-powered system plugs directly into PXCom's full digital journey ecosystem to provide airlines with real-time intelligence across airport operations, flight control, ancillary services, and regulatory compliance. Air India Express became the first airline to deploy the joint product, branded as DAViX, on Oct 16, 2025. Quoted: Cyril Jean, CEO of PXCom.
- Worldlineflagship — flagship payments partnership enabling android pos in-flight payments across indiaStrategic partnership announced Dec 12, 2024 under which Worldline integrates its Android POS machines with Forthcode's nGO inflight retail SaaS to deliver cloud-hosted in-flight payment solutions for airlines operating in India. The integrated platform combines inflight retail, inventory management, and payment acceptance, with automated reconciliation. Mr. Sheik Mohideen (EVP India, Worldline) and Ajith Balakumar (CEO, Forthcode) jointly announced the collaboration, citing smarter and more inclusive payment options for airlines.
- TEAC Corporationflagship — global oem integration with teac's ps-v50 gen2 streaming serverBusiness partnership announced July 16, 2024 to enhance Forthcode's Inflight Digital Platform by combining nGO with TEAC's PS-V50 GEN2 portable, battery-powered Wi-Fi streaming server for aircraft. Forthcode's nGO adds inflight retail, service, and catering automation to TEAC's IFE hardware, supporting low-cost credit card payments onboard. Enables TEAC to expand overseas sales of the PS-V50 GEN2 and Forthcode to reach IFE-procured airlines.
- FPT Softwareflagship — global delivery and geographic reach partnershipStrategic partnership announced May 13, 2024 in Hanoi under which FPT Software and Forthcode collaborate to elevate nGO across vendor, inventory, procurement, loyalty programs, promotions, payments, crew, inflight sales, and services. FPT contributes digital transformation, software engineering, and IT resources to expand Forthcode's global reach across FPT's network of 30+ countries. Quoted executives: Frank Bignone (FPT Software VP, Director of Digital Transformation) and Ajith Balakumar (CEO, Forthcode).
- Navitaire (Amadeus)core — primary pss integration for airline customers (air india express, goair, airasia india)Integrated with nGO to provide passenger and flight data into Forthcode's inflight retail and catering workflows. Referenced in customer case studies for Air India Express, GoAir, and AirAsia India as the PSS layer for which automated inventory and ancillary workflows are built.
- SAPcore — finance/erp integration for tax, incentive, and invoicing workflowsERP integration enabling finance, accounting, compliance, and crew incentive calculations to flow directly from nGO inflight sales into SAP. Deployed at Air India Express, GoAir, and Akasa Air.
- AIMS (CRSS)core — crew rostering system integration at akasa air and airasia indiaIntegrated with nGO for crew-related workflows, deployed at Akasa Air and AirAsia India. AIMS provides the crew rostering data layer that nGO uses for incentive calculations, crew settlement, and performance tracking.
- CAE (CRSS)core — crew-related workflow integration at air india expressIntegrated with nGO at Air India Express to support crew-related workflows, feeding crew rostering and operational data into Forthcode's inflight retail and catering platform.
- Verteilminor — partner logo shown across forthcode product pages and customer storiesPartner shown in Forthcode's product and customer stories logo rails alongside PXCom, Jazeera, Worldline, TEAC, and Yacova, indicating an ecosystem/marketplace partnership.
- Jazeera Airwaysminor — partner logo referenced in forthcode ecosystemPartner logo displayed in Forthcode's product and customer stories pages, indicating a regional partner/customer relationship in the Middle East airline market.
- Yacovaminor — partner logo referenced in forthcode ecosystemPartner logo shown in Forthcode's product and customer stories pages alongside other ecosystem partners.
- EGSminor — partner logo referenced in forthcode ecosystemPartner logo displayed in Forthcode's product and customer stories pages alongside other ecosystem partners.
- Hitachi Vantara (former employer of SVP Technology)not a partnership — historical employer reference onlyNot a commercial partnership. Referenced only as a former employer of Nibin Jacob Panicker (SVP Technology) in the leadership bio on the About page; included here for completeness of disclosed ecosystem relationships.
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Forthcode competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hitit Computer Services: Provider of airline software including reservation, departure control, crew and loyalty systems. Comparable as a competing SaaS platform to airline operators with overlapping PSS-adjacent functionality.
- Datalex: Provider of the Datalex Airline Commerce Platform for airline retail, pricing and distribution. Comparable as a direct competitor in airline digital retail, offering and order management with similar airline-customer focus.
- IBS Software: India-based airline IT vendor serving passenger services, loyalty, cargo and crew operations globally. Directly comparable because it competes with nGO across airline ancillary, crew and operational workflows and shares a similar aviation-only SaaS GTM.
- OpenJaw Technologies: Travel and loyalty SaaS vendor (an Accelya company) with deep airline retail and customer data platform capabilities. Closely aligned to Forthcode's nGO platform in serving airline merchandising, loyalty and personalization needs.
Emerging players
- PROS Holdings: AI-driven pricing and revenue optimization SaaS for airlines. Comparable as a fellow AI-native vendor targeting airline ancillary and revenue use cases adjacent to Forthcode's nGO AI and LITS monetization plays.
- Fetcherr: AI-based airline pricing, forecasting and operations platform. Comparable as an emerging AI-first player attacking airline revenue and operational decisioning, overlapping conceptually with Forthcode's uplift forecasting and AI agent roadmap.
Broad incumbents
- Lufthansa Systems: Airline IT subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group offering PSS, crew, finance and digital operations solutions. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving similar airline customers across Europe and globally.
- Sabre: Major airline IT provider across PSS, retailing and operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose suite overlaps with Forthcode's inflight retail and catering scope at global carriers.
- Accelya: Large airline financial services and analytics platform covering revenue accounting, cargo and loyalty. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same airline IT buying center, where Forthcode's payment and ancillary modules compete for wallet share.
- Amadeus (Navitaire): Global airline IT incumbent whose Navitaire PSS is integrated with Forthcode but also bundles adjacent retail and ancillary capabilities. A primary ecosystem player and competitive threat on the same airline-customer RFPs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forthcode social profiles
Digital presenceForthcode compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Forthcode financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forthcode leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Forthcode subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Forthcode funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forthcode M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Forthcode
What does Forthcode do?
Forthcode provides a cloud-hosted, multi-tenant SaaS platform called nGO that delivers inflight retail, offline card payments, catering management, and agentic AI capabilities purpose-built for commercial airlines. The platform is sold via multi-year enterprise subscriptions and bundled with implementation, training, and post-go-live support to low-cost and full-service carriers globally.
Is Forthcode a public or private company?
Forthcode is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Forthcode founded?
Forthcode was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Forthcode based?
Forthcode is headquartered in Bangalore, India, in the Asia region.
How does Forthcode make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Multi-year SaaS subscription for nGO platform is the primary driver. The others are transaction-based inflight payment and LITS revenue and professional services and implementation.
Who are Forthcode's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hitit Computer Services, Datalex, IBS Software and OpenJaw Technologies. Emerging players are PROS Holdings and Fetcherr. Broad incumbents are Lufthansa Systems, Sabre, Accelya and Amadeus (Navitaire).
Does Forthcode have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forthcode.
What industry is Forthcode in?
Forthcode's product category is Aviation SaaS / Inflight Retail and Catering Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THALABAI, Interlining, Codeshare & Settlement (Proration/Revenue Accounting).