Air India systems integration with Star Alliance: SITA completes technical requisites

NEW DELHI: Global aviation IT firm SITA today said it has completed a variety of technical requisites for Air India to integrate its systems with that of Star Alliance, including those concerning ticketing, e-commerce, departure control and revenue integrity.

The Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques (SITA), which earlier integrated the systems of erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India after their merger, also provided its Horizon Passenger Services System (PSS) suite of solutions for Air India to seamlessly integrate with the global airlines' grouping.

The PSS suite comprises technological solutions for various activities like integrating reservations, frequent flyer programmes, departure control services, fares and revenue integrity and e-commerce. It also provides passengers with an efficient online booking engine, kiosk check-in and web check-in, a SITA statement said.

Observing that Star Alliance membership would facilitate Air India's ability to achieve its future growth strategy, airline CMD Rohit Nandan said SITA's "cutting-edge technology was instrumental in making the membership possible and will undoubtedly allow us to continue to improve efficiencies and deliver enhanced passenger services".

SITA CEO Francesco Violante said Air India's entry into the alliance was "achieved in record time" and Air India would "now be able to offer passengers a seamless travel experience across the Star Alliance network around the world".

Its Vice President (India and Subcontinent) Maneesh Jaikrishna said his organisation had provided Air India with "mission-critical solutions for more than 50 years including network connectivity, desktop infrastructure and associated support at all its domestic and international stations in addition to solutions for check-in, air-to-ground communications, fares management and baggage tracing".

SITA has implemented several innovations for Indian airlines, airports, passengers and other stakeholders like common use check-in and baggage management systems, air-ground communications and airport management systems.