Page 36 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2014 Online Magazine

NEWS

Garuda Indonesia Ties
Up With SITA
Garuda Indonesia has selected air
transport IT specialist, SITA, to fully
manage its international network
infrastructure, standardize IT operations
including its domestic IT infrastructure,
and facilitate quick migration to its
new reservation system. The new
five-year agreement will simplify
Inflight Cell Phones Garuda’s information technology,
while supporting its “Quantum Leap”
With the ending of the FCC’s consultation friends, family and colleagues on the transformation program as Indonesia
period on the extension of the access ground. prepares to welcome 100 million
to mobile wireless services onboard “People embarking on their careers passengers by 2015.
aircraft, OnAir is once again urging the have grown up being able to stay in SITA’s unique network offering has a
telecoms regulator, as well as the FAA, touch wherever, whenever and however footprint in more than 220 countries and
to define the legal framework and to give they want,” said Dawkins. “Tomorrow’s offers shared infrastructure at over 300
the decision about inflight cell phone business people don’t want to be out airports, including SITA’s community
usage to airlines. of touch just because they are flying, approach to operational messaging.
It is also calling on the Federal particularly when there is no reason for Under the new agreement, SITA will
Government not to pass legislation imposing a ban.” extend its current role from managing
banning inflight cell phone use. The evidence is clear. OnAir provides Garuda’s international network to
“The US authorities have three inflight cell phone and Wi-Fi services to also managing its domestic network,
choices,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. 21 airlines around the world, including including some domestic airports. It
“you can give the airlines the right leading global airlines such as Aeroflot, will also include handling domestic
tools to allow them to decide what British Airways, Emirates, Philippine infrastructure vendors, providing end-
services to offer passengers. you can Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore user computing services and managing
allow airlines from the rest of the world Airlines. Mobile OnAir, the inflight cell operational messaging.
to offer cell phone services when they phone service, has flown on millions This, in turn, will simplify the
are in your airspace. The third option is of flights across the world since 2007, airline’s administration and billing,
to try to stop progress with a ban.” with the full backing of over 100 national provide substantial cost savings, and
It is clear that inflight connectivity authorities. Airlines have the choice of ensure all end users globally benefit
is a growing market in the US, as it is turning off the voice element, leaving from the same high level of reliability
across the world. Skift, the leading travel mobile data only. They can choose to and performance.
intelligence company, recently published disable the voice service permanently, or Judi Rifajantoro, Director Strategy,
the results of a survey showing that only during the plane’s quiet times. Business Development & Risk
18% of air passengers in the US have Passengers typically use Mobile Management, Garuda Indonesia, said:
used inflight connectivity, suggested OnAir for data – largely email – to “SITA is providing a one-stop shop
a significant potential for growth. The update Facebook and Twitter, and for that meets all our IT needs, including
survey also showed that 18-24 year text messaging. Voice calls, which cost offering additional expertise and know-
olds are the most likely to use inflight around $3-$4 per minute, account for how to help with our transformation
connectivity to communicate with their slightly over 10% of total inflight usage. program.

36 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM