Sharjah International Airport partners with SITA to deliver improved passenger service

Under the agreement, SITA will install and maintain its Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE®) check-in service and Departure Control System (DCS). The project expands existing passenger and departure systems, enabling a more efficient and passenger-friendly airport experience.

More than 1.3 million passengers a year travel through Sharjah International Airport, which is now served by some 40 airlines—with the most recent arrival being the new regional, low cost carrier Air Arabia. Airport operations and the passenger journey will be greatly enhanced by SITA's latest Java-based and Internet Protocol (IP) enabled CUTE system, which will operate at some 30 check-in desks, optimizing resource utilization for the airport. Furthermore, SITA's Departure Control System (DCS) provides cost savings, enhanced customer service and improved security by automatically tracking passengers and their baggage from check-in through to aircraft boarding.

Dr. Ghanem Al Hajiri, Director General, Sharjah Airport Authority, said, "SITA is the leading provider of CUTE and DCS and was the obvious partner of choice when it came to upgrading our existing systems. We need to deliver even better service to our customers, minimize delays and queuing times—and enable the shared use of check-in and departure control systems throughout the airport. Clearly, technology is a key enabler of our business and working with SITA gives us the confidence and peace of mind we need as we take these projects forward."

Mr. Jamal El-Hoss, SITA INC's Regional Vice President for Sales and Marketing Middle East, Africa and South Central Asia added, "We are delighted to implement our latest airport solutions here in Sharjah. SITA is committed to delivering the highest levels of service to our customers and will provide Sharjah International Airport with greater operational flexibility and, crucially, a reduction in costs. Sharjah already has world-class facilities and provides excellent service to its customers and passengers. By taking full advantage of the functional benefits and cost efficiencies of IP networking and common use systems, SITA will enable Sharjah International Airport to meet the increasingly complex challenges faced by airport operators today."

Focusing on the complete integration of the technology systems at airports, SITA's solutions are designed to help airports maximize security, combat congestion, improve operating efficiencies and reduce costs. They also provide airports with the technology architecture required to take advantage of a broad range of services based on Internet Protocols (IP) that are vital to the future of the air transport industry.