SITA, co-sponsor of the IATA AGM and the main provider of integrated IT business solutions and communication services for the air transport industry, reported consolidated revenues of US$1.481 billion…
SITA, co-sponsor of the IATA AGM and the main provider of integrated IT business solutions and communication services for the air transport industry, reported consolidated revenues of US$1.481 billion for the year 2006 and a record US$1.001 billion in new business.
In comments released at the IATA AGM, Paul Coby, SITA Chairman, said, “SITA earned on target revenues last year but the most significant indicator for the air transport industry overall is that the main IT provider still owned by the airlines, signed just over US$1 billion in new contracts last year for the first time. This clearly supports IATA’s optimism about the overall health of the industry and the airlines’ return to profitability worldwide.”
“At SITA, we have achieved the goals we set ourselves last year when we brought together the applications and communication sides of the business into a single SITA organisation. We have delivered on a clear shareholder strategy, a single integrated approach to the customer and a simple and cost-effective organisation structure. SITA remains in the air transport community’s hands and continues to deliver IP-based innovation to the heart of that community.”
Francesco Violante, SITA CEO, said, “In addition to winning over US$1 billion in new business we also returned nearly US$71 million to customers through price reductions on our community network services which we continue to deliver on a completely not-for-profit basis.”
“SITA has maintained its position as a world leader in check-in solutions which were used by over 550 million passengers last year but we are also investing in the future through innovative technologies such as OnAir, our joint venture with Airbus which will see mobile phone use on planes become a reality in the near future.”
Some of the most significant SITA steps last year were: a US$100 million deal to revamp Malaysia Airlines; an IT outsourcing deal at London City Airport; the creation of a Push/Pull filter for sharing of air passenger data between Europe and North America; the launch of a highly secure solution for loading software and data onto the A380; the launch of web check-in in Russia; and an agreement to double passenger capacity at Beijing Capital International Airport for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
