ADCM-360: Airline Digital Core Modernization 360° Framework

Airlines increasingly compete through the maturity of their digital core, not only through fleet size, routes, pricing, and service quality. Yet many airline digital initiatives remain fragmented across enterprise resource planning, passenger service systems, departure control, maintenance and engineering, operational control, customer relationship management, finance, procurement, business intelligence, cloud platforms, and artificial intelligence pilots. ADCM-360 is a Design Science method and technical reference model for transforming fragmented legacy airline environments into intelligent, connected, predictive, and human-governed autonomous operating models. The model integrates seven layers: systems integration; data governance and intelligence; process modernization; AI and predictive operations; governance, risk, compliance and AI assurance; performance and value realization; and leadership, transformation, capability and adoption. Its core principle is Universal Core + Adaptive Execution: all airlines require the same modernization logic, but the implementation pathway must be calibrated to airline type, fleet complexity, digital maturity, budget, regulatory environment, vendor dependency, workforce capability, and strategic priorities. The method does not claim completed empirical validation. Instead, it provides a structured artifact, KPI architecture, maturity trajectory, pilot-to-production governance logic, and validation protocol for expert review, case-based demonstration, maturity assessment, and future empirical testing.