IBM and SITA offer air transport industry wide range of IT solutions

IT services provider IBM and SITA, provider of integrated information and telecommunications solutions to the air transport industry, have signed an agreement to offer airlines and airports in the Asia Pacific region a broad range of information technology (IT) and communications solutions.

The two companies will leverage their core competencies to provide technology, network services, business applications, complex systems integration capability, e-business skills and strategic outsourcing.

“IBM’s agreement with SITA combines our leading services and solutions to ensure that all airline and IT communications solutions are delivered successfully,” said Mr. Riz Rizavi, Vice President, Travel and Transportation, IBM Global Services Asia Pacific.

“SITA’s partnership with IBM will deliver significant commercial benefits to the air transport industry. SITA will provide the field knowledge and expertise, while IBM will complement with their technology capabilities. As more and more of our customers in this industry adopt the latest Internet Protocol (IP) technologies, this partnership will provide us with the unique opportunity and position to help them grow and develop their potential,” said Mr. Lim Soon Hock, SITA President Asia Pacific.

In Asia Pacific, the two companies also work closely together on key outsourcing arrangements, such as with the Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific, where IBM and SITA have been co-suppliers of IT services since the airline outsourced elements of its IT operations in 1997.