SITA lands with technology on the tarmac

At the seminar, Eyad Shihabi, Vice President, Airport & Desktop Services, SITA Middle East and Africa, will be speaking about the importance of continually developing and delivering technology, unveiling innovations in community-based networking designed specifically for the aviation industry.

"For the aviation industry to succeed in achieving cost effective service and excellent performance globally, it is essential to invest in seamless IT infrastructure and applications," said Shibabi. "Effective and reliable IT solutions for passenger handling, baggage management and operations systems have a direct impact on customer satisfaction which translates into success for airports and the airline industry in general."

SITA's global experience and its Middle East presence, working closely with the aviation industry in the region for the last 25 years, positions SITA as a reliable partner to evaluate, recommend and provide proven technology solutions to meet the existing and emerging needs of the industry. The aviation industry in the region is experiencing phenomenal growth, with forecasted investments in the infrastructure estimated at some US$10 billion, supporting large business, travel and tourism projects.

Industry growth is dependent on a reliable integrated IT platform that can support both current and future applications and has the capability to deliver secure anytime, anywhere access to systems throughout the airport and its related industries.

"The aviation industry in the region has recognized the importance of having state-of-the-art operating infrastructures in place to secure customer satisfaction, loyalty and a steady stream of traffic, while also delivering on cost control goals," added Shihabi. "As the leading supplier of IT solutions to the industry SITA has the experience and insight to be able to provide our customers with solutions that will boost operational flexibility and cost reductions in order to manage their business effectively, without compromising security."

Today, pressures on airports are mounting to deliver strong commercial results, which is directly linked to an increased emphasis on customer satisfaction and on making the whole journey a more relaxed and straightforward experience for the passenger. By standardizing information exchange at airports and building a community infrastructure, new applications, services and systems can be implemented quickly and cost effectively, streamlining passenger services and operations while at the same time reducing overall costs.

As the leading supplier of IP solutions to the aviation sector SITA already provides private IP solutions to over 400 customers and connects over 230 airlines and other aviation organizations via its extranet services, helping them operate effectively in secure communities. Its network connectivity is relied upon by 1,800 customers, including 22 of the world's top 25 airlines and over 200 major airports. It also links 60,000 travel agents to all the major global distribution systems (GDSs).