AFRAA awards SITA 'Aviation IT Service Provider of the Year'

The award recognises 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.

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 recognised 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.”