Frequent flyers rejoice: SkyTeam, the global alliance of 20 global airlines, launched SkyTeam Rebooking, an innovative solution to reduce inconveniences caused by flight delays, cancellations and diversions.

The industry-first technology has been in development for five years — but it seems it’ll be worth the wait.

Currently available at 43 airports with new locations to come, the Rebooking tool enables access to passenger itineraries across multiple reservation systems, so when there is a problem with a flight, a frontline agent can assess reservations and rebook onto another member’s flights using one comprehensive platform.

“Delays and cancellations are a fact of life in travel, but with SkyTeam Rebooking we are tackling the issue head-on to deliver more seamless service to customers, especially when their journey doesn’t go as planned,” said Perry Cantarutti, CEO, SkyTeam. “Irregular operations are a moment of truth for airlines and a critical opportunity to demonstrate customer centricity. Since the roll out of SkyTeam Rebooking began, thousands of passengers have been helped by our members thanks to this new technology.”

The Rebooking tool rolls out in two phases, with the service now available in 21 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The second phase, completed in late 2019, will cover the United States and Canada.