Skytra selects Exactpro to test its new derivatives trading software

  • Skytra, the new Airbus’ venture for airline risk management, and Exactpro Systems, a specialist independent software quality assurance firm, sign a Master Services Agreement. 
  • The software testing collaboration between Skytra and Exactpro will provide the stakeholders with additional confidence in the quality of Skytra’s derivatives trading platform prior to go-live in a transparent, regulated and secure environment.

Skytra is a recently established Airbus company. Its goal is to provide an innovative solution for the air travel industry to hedge and manage its revenue volatility risks caused by short-term revenue visibility and support long-term financial planning for airline operators. Market participants will soon be able to trade cash-settled futures and options contracts based on Skytra Price Indices developed in collaboration with the air travel industry.

As announced earlier, Skytra is applying for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorisation to act as a Benchmark Administrator and to operate a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF). Nasdaq, the architect and provider of the world’s most widely adopted financial market infrastructure technology, will provide, host and manage the core technology for Skytra’s derivatives trading venue.

Skytra and Exactpro today announce that based on the results of a successful RFQ process, a Master Services Agreement between the two firms has been signed whereby Exactpro will provide various IT consultancy and software testing services to Skytra. The initial engagement will include Exactpro supporting functional testing of Skytra’s derivatives trading platform powered by Nasdaq.

Jeremy Norwood, CIO of Skytra, said: “Our timescales for launch are challenging, and we needed an experienced IT partner who could help us ensure that the delivered software works as per our business, operational and regulatory requirements. Exactpro will conduct a number of independent, unbiased functional and regression test cycles as part of our overall delivery programme. I am confident that Exactpro, with its proven track record of successful delivery of quality assurance projects for the financial services industry, will provide exceptional service for Skytra.”

Alexey Zverev, Co-Founder and Director of Exactpro, said: “We are honoured to have been selected by Skytra to work on this ambitious undertaking in collaboration with our Skytra and Nasdaq colleagues. On our end, we have allocated an experienced agile project team equipped with our tools built for automated testing of our clients’ software.”

About Skytra
Skytra Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus based in London. It was established in 2019 to produce new air travel indices and to launch and operate a regulated trading venue. Skytra works in close partnership with air travel and financial market experts to develop new risk management instruments for the benefit of the entire air travel industry. To learn more, visit www.skytra.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @SkytraMarkets.

About Exactpro
Exactpro is a specialist firm currently employing 580 staff focused on functional and non-functional testing and software development of systems that process wholesale financial products across many asset classes, such as trading and clearing systems, risk management, market surveillance, securities data distribution and post-trade infrastructures. These services are offered to exchanges, investment banks, brokers, technology firms and other financial sector organizations worldwide. Exactpro is an independent company owned by its management team. Learn more at exactpro.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @exactpro.

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