Saudi Arabian signs $76m network contract with Sita

Jeddah-based Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed a $76 million (Dh279.15m) hybrid network contract with Sita, the specialist in air transport IT and communications.

The new project is aimed to help the 18-million passenger airline to reduce its communications-related costs significantly, become more flexible and provide its customers and staff with advanced, future-proof services with mobility access over Sita's IP-VPN secured network, Sita said yesterday. "The hybrid network solution will facilitate the introduction of a broad range of new applications including a new passenger management system," it said.

"This project represents the second part of a two-phase project that initially commenced in June 2006 to renovate our IT and communications infrastructure. The new Sita network and desktop infrastructure will connect 250 of our offices, covering more than 100 cities and airports across 60 countries," said Dr Omar Jefri, Vice-President of Information Technology at Saudi Arabian Airlines.

In addition to a new passenger management system, Saudi Arabian Airlines also plans to implement a new enterprise resource planning system, flight planning and a range of new cargo applications across the Sita-provided communications infrastructure.

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