Cairo International Airport further increases operational efficiencies with SITA's integrated IT solutions

This contract marks the start of the second phase of a 5-year, US$ 35 million Airport Systems Integration project to streamline the passenger journey and support Egypt's growing tourism industry.

Phase I of the project began in December 2001, by linking the airports of six major tourist destinations to one main Control Center at the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Cairo. The six Airports covered by Phase I were: Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurgada, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel & Alexandria which jointly handle some 12 million passengers per year. This Control Center hosts the Airport Operational Database (AirportCentral), including key financial systems, which manages the movement of all aircraft, passengers and baggage at the 6 airports. In addition, the Control Center hosts the Baggage Reconciliation System (BagManager) and Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) servers providing shared-use, automated check-in and baggage handling services for these airports. SITA has also equipped each of these airports with a Flight Information Display System (AirportVision), integrated with AirportCentral in Cairo. And finally, in the case of four of the six airports, charter airlines without access to any DCS system are now able to benefit from a local SITA DCS (MaestroDCS Local).

Phase II, valued at US$ 16million, extends the infrastructure and applications, supplied in Phase I, to the two terminals at Cairo International Airport as well as the new Luxor Airport, currently under construction. In addition, Phase II will provide passengers with Internet access to all flight information at each airport and will include a complete training program for the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN) staff, along with the establishment of a training center, with full systems simulations.

The expansion project supports the objectives of the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation to ease congestion and reduce operating costs by standardizing and improving services across all of Egypt's airports. With passenger numbers continuing to grow, the development of a strong IT infrastructure enables a streamlined travel experience for not only visitors, but also for all those involved in the tourism industry.

Mr. Maged El Masri, AVIT Chairman, commented: "We are very pleased with the level of service and support provided by SITA during Phase I of the project and feel that we have the most experienced partner capable of realizing our objectives. By implementing advanced IT systems in our airport environments and connecting Cairo with Egypt's prominent tourist destinations, we are providing the country with the necessary infrastructure to serve the evolving needs and demands of the tourism industry in Egypt."

"Our objective is to fully support plans of the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation to enhance the level of service offered by all of Egypt's airports and we are delighted to have been given the opportunity to continue to build on our present partnership with the Egyptian Aviation industry," said Hani El -Assaad SITA Middle East & Africa President. "By combining SITA's local experience and global solutions to enhance operations for airports and their users, and by fulfilling the objectives communicated by the EHCAAN we have every confidence that Phase II will prove successful."

Focusing on the total integration of all the technology systems at the airport, SITA's helping airports & their users to combat congestion, maximize limited resources, improve operating efficiencies, reduce costs and help identify new streams of revenue.