Air India in $190-mn deal with SITA

Air India on Thursday signed a $190 million (Rs 845 crore) deal with SITA, the world’s leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions, for upgradation and integration of its passenger reservation system as well as to facilitate its entry into Star Alliance.

Air India on Thursday signed a $190 million (Rs 845 crore) deal with SITA, the world’s leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions, for upgradation and integration of its passenger reservation system as well as to facilitate its entry into Star Alliance.

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National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) has announced awarding this contract to SITA, which would provide its hosted Horizon Passenger Services System (PSS) to Air India on a turnkey basis for 10 years. The award was following a global competitive tendering process.

SITA’s Horizon platform provides hosted PSS services to 140 airlines boarding 120 million passengers annually and this will be used to deliver a single airline code to Air India rather than two codes (AI and CO) currently. This would allow the
seamless integration of Indian Airlines and Air India for the first time since they merged in August 2007.

SITA will also implement an efficient online booking engine, departure control system, check-in and automated boarding control, baggage reconciliation system and a frequent flyer programme.

“Implementation of the PSS will complete the merger. This will enable us to align processes and systems to meet Star Alliance standards,” said Arvind Jadhav, CMD, Air India.