HONG KONG, Aug. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SITA, the specialist provider of IT communications solutions to the air transport industry, today announced a four-year multi-million agreement to provide Cathay Pacific with a fully-managed network infrastructure which will guarantee the airline network readiness for the introduction of new applications across the world. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, which together with sister airline Dragonair, carried 23.3 million passengers last year, currently flies to 118 destinations using a fleet of 117 wide-bodied aircraft.
Edward Nicol, Cathay Pacific’s Director Information Management, said: "We were looking for a highly secure and scalable network that could meet our business needs in terms of user-response, performance, reliability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness, which SITA was able to supply. In addition, SITA’s Professional Services will provide essential support for the implementation and integration of the total network solution."
The IT network upgrade will provide 425% more bandwidth to ensure regional offices have similar capabilities and network resilience as the head office in Hong Kong. In addition to messaging, the solution includes core IP services, managed firewall and end-to-end pro-active service management with a 24/7 helpdesk and an on-site service management team. Over 300 connections will be upgraded in the initial phase.
The agreement includes Airport Hub, the SITA solution which allows shared common IT infrastructure and greater network resilience in a cost effective manner at over 100 airports worldwide. Initially, Cathay Pacific’s Common-Use Self-Service kiosks application will be supported by Airport Hub at Amsterdam, Beijing, Heathrow, Kuala Lumpur, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Toronto, Vancouver and Zurich. Airport Hub will also support back-office applications once the bandwidth has been expanded.
Paul Dalton, SITA Regional Vice-President, North Asia and Pacific said: "We are very honoured to have been selected by Cathay Pacific as their network partner. SITA provides Cathay Pacific with extensive telecommunications services and we are uniquely positioned to ensure full integration for the WAN, Campus Network and Outport LAN environments. Our long experience of working with the airline makes SITA the ideal partner for the migration to a single integration layer of multiple hybrid networks in order to meet Cathay Pacific’s business requirements."
SITA offers customers a cost-effective, industry-specific network and IT services, delivered over the world’s most extensive data network. SITA has deployed IP networks for over 500 customers and manages 19,500 connections worldwide.
Notes to Editors:
About SITA
SITA is the specialist provider of integrated IT business solutions and communication services for the world’s air transport industry. SITA manages complex communication solutions for its air transport, government and GDS customers over the world’s most extensive communication network, complemented by consultancy in the design, deployment and integration of communication services. Its broad range of airline and airport IT applications and services includes airport operations and integrated baggage services, common use and desktop services, flight operations and air-to-ground communications and end-to-end airline distribution and fares services.
SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is leading the race to bring in-flight mobile telephony to the market, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world’s only IT company solely dedicated to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community: Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management. In addition, SITA sponsors .aero, the Internet top level domain reserved exclusively for aviation.
SITA covers 220 countries and territories and the head office is in Geneva, Switzerland. SITA had consolidated revenues of US$1.42 billion
(euro 1.06 billion) in 2007.
Further information can be found at http://www.sita.aero .
About Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific Airways is a Hong Kong-based airline offering scheduled passenger and cargo services to 118 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, Europe and Africa, using a fleet of 117 wide-body aircraft. The company is a member of the Swire group and is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Dragonair is a wholly owned subsidiary and Cathay Pacific also has a 60% stake in AHK Air Hong Kong Ltd, an all-cargo carrier operating regional express freight services. Cathay Pacific has made substantial investments to develop Hong Kong as one of the world’s leading global transportation hubs. The airline is a founder member of the oneworld global alliance.
More information can be found at http://www.cathaypacific.com .
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Burrows
Communique
Tel: +852-2850-5990
Email: sarah@communiquehk.com
