SITA named ‘Aviation IT Service Provider of the Year’ by African Airlines Association AFRAA

SITA has been awarded Aviation IT Service Provider of the Year by AFRAA, the African Airlines Association. The award recognizes SITA for its broad portfolio of solutions for the air transport industry, its collaboration with customers to pilot emerging technologies, and its investment in research and development in innovative solutions for the industry.

The Aviation IT Service Provider of the Year award was presented to SITA at the gala dinner of the African Airlines Association’s Suppliers and Stakeholders Convention (ASASC) by Ms. Sosina Iyabo, who is Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and ICAO Deputy Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Hani El-Assaad, SITA President, Middle East, India and Africa, said: “SITA is uniquely dedicated to providing the very best communications and IT solutions for the air transport industry, so it is hugely gratifying to be recognized in this way by AFRAA. We have been working with African airlines and airports for 50 years, always seeking to help them improve both their operations and customer service.”

El-Assaad continued: “It is very interesting that the theme for last month’s African Airlines Association’s Suppliers and Stakeholders Convention was ‘Business Together’. We discussed ‘the Potential of Collaboration’ at the SITA IT Summit during the following week. It is very clear we are all thinking along the same lines: the key to growth is for stakeholders across the aviation industry to work together.”

Dr. Elijah Chingosho, Secretary General of AFRAA, said: “Information technology is defining the cost competitiveness of airlines globally, and African airlines must not be late adopters of this trend. AFRAA’s partnership with SITA continues to bring to African airlines and airports cost-effective, cutting edge technology solutions tailored to our environment and needs. By championing the use of mobile devices in air transport, SITA is creating new business opportunities for airlines and giving passengers control over travel decisions. Africa must embrace this trend.”

AFRAA is the trade association of airlines from the African Union member states. Its primary purpose is to foster commercial and technical co-operation among African airlines while representing their common interests.

In Africa, SITA’s main offices are in Johannesburg and Cairo, and the company serves more than 240 customers across the continent, including airlines, airports and government agencies. AFRAA and SITA have initiated many joint projects over the years to help drive down costs and help African airlines benefit from IATA’s Simplifying the Business initiatives, including the migration to e-ticketing. Today, SITA and AFRAA continue to explore new initiatives, particularly community solutions which will help African airlines.

This is SITA’s second major award this year. In March, the Air Transport News (ATN) 2013 Awards recognized SITA as the IT Company of the Year for its influential leadership, achievements, innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and social responsibility.