ARINC Incorporated announced it has won a comprehensive messaging contract from Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and one of the Middle East’s fastest growing carriers. ARINC won the 3-year service contract in recent competitive bidding, and is currently deploying a state-of-the-art messaging solution, based on the ARINC X.400 Message Handling System.

ARINC’s total solution includes multiple types of services and is designed to improve Etihad’s message flow, message management, and visibility while providing a scalable platform for future growth.

“ARINC’s total solution will provide us with modern, flexible messaging interfaces as well as private e-mail capability that is low in cost, easy to use, and secure,” explained Richard Dawson, Etihad Airways CIO. “The solution ARINC proposed is easily scalable and easily integrated into our existing environment—key factors in its successful bid.”

The ARINC X.400 Messaging Solution bridges the gap between proprietary standards of the airline transportation industry and modern international non-proprietary standards. It converts airline message protocols to prevailing messaging standards, allowing messages to be sent and received over the Internet or Internet-like networks without sacrificing the required message delivery assurance.

“ARINC has led the industry in the introduction of Internet Protocol (IP)-based solutions for industry-standard messaging,” stated Paul Hickox, Regional Director, ARINC Middle East. “We are delighted to have Etihad Airways, a major customer in the Middle East, using the full range of ARINC Messaging Services.”