BWI: Ghana Airports Invest $15 Million in Sita Systems Upgrade for Passenger and Bag Management

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: SITA
Friday, September 30, 2011 05:53 PM IST (12:23 PM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest, People, Travel & tourism; Business: Business services, Hospitality, Travel & tourism
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Ghana Airports Invest $15 Million in Sita Systems Upgrade for Passenger and Bag Management


New Delhi, Delhi, India, Friday, September 30, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- Tourist hot spot, Ghana, is to benefit from new integrated airport systems from airport IT specialist, SITA, designed to improve passenger flow and baggage management at the country's main airport, Kotoka International Airport. The new systems were commissioned today by Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister for Transport.

The ten-year, $15 million implementation by SITA for the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) includes technology upgrades such as the introduction of a new baggage reconciliation system, the latest common-use self-service (CUSS) check-in kiosks, and SITA's suite of airport management solutions integrated with a new airport operational data base (AODB) and flight information display system which ensures passengers get a real-time view on flight changes.

The SITA Baggage Reconciliation System will provide Kotoka's 800,000 passengers with a state-of-the-art facility capable of tracking over two million bags from check-in to delivery while ensuring that the right bag is on the right plane for the right passenger.

Speaking at the official commissioning at the airport today, Doreen Owusu-Fianko, GACL Managing Director, said: "The Ghana Airports Company is keen to ensure that all passengers checking in at Kotoka International Airport have a smooth and pleasant passage through the airport with a minimum of queues and delays. SITA's airport management solution will anchor systems integration across the airport and self-service check-in is something that passengers now expect as much as online booking.

"Passengers also place a high value on their baggage arriving safely. SITA's Baggage Reconciliation System now provides us with maximum visibility on baggage movements from check-in to loading. This will also enhance airport and flight security while assuring passengers that we have infrastructure in place that they can rely on."

SITA Airport Management Solution, used worldwide by airports which handle over 400 million passengers, provides intelligent and agile airport applications which improve operational performance through more efficient allocation of resources, such as departure gates, aircraft slots, check-in counters, and baggage carousels. It also provides a state-of-the-art information display for passengers showing arrival, departure and gate information. In addition, SITA's systems give airlines real-time oversight of the billable services provided by the airport.

SITA has already pioneered the successful introduction of CUSS kiosks in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. The initial deployment in Kotoka International Airport covers 10 CUSS kiosks.

Rob Watkins, SITA Regional Vice President for Africa, said: "Kotoka International Airport will be a showcase for air transport and operational efficiency now that SITA's systems are in place. In a world where passenger numbers are climbing, integrated airport systems are key to making the best possible use of existing resources and infrastructure while maximizing airport revenues and attracting new airlines.

"We expect that the new CUSS kiosks will be capable of handling up to 40% or more of passengers checking-in during peak periods at Kotoka International Airport. This will help the airport to manage increasing passenger flows without having to invest in creating new check-in desks."

Notes to Editors:

About SITA

SITA is the world's leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions. SITA delivers and manages business solutions for airline, airport, GDS, government and other customers over the world's most extensive network, which forms the communications backbone of the global air transport industry.

SITA's portfolio includes managed global communications, infrastructure and outsourcing services, as well as services for airline commercial management and passenger operations, flight operations, aircraft operations and air-to-ground communications, airport management and operations, baggage operations, transportation security and border management, cargo operations and more.

With a customer service team of over 2,000 staff around the world, SITA invests significantly in achieving best-in-class customer service, providing integrated local and global support for both its communications and IT application services.

SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is the leading provider of in-flight connectivity, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company dedicated solely to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community: Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management.

SITA is one of the world's most international companies. Its global reach is based on local presence, with services for over 500 air transport industry members and 3,200 customers in over 200 countries and territories. Set up in 1949 with 11 member airlines, SITA today employs people of more than 140 nationalities, speaking over 70 different languages. SITA had consolidated revenues of US$1.46 billion in 2010.


CONTACT DETAILS
Brenda Flinter, Public Relations, SITA, +353 (0) 87 750 6229, Brenda.Flinter@sita.aero
Natasha Georgiev, SITA, + 27 (11) 517 7063 /+27 (0) 83 6760429, natasha.georgiev@sita.aero
Charlie Pryor,Director, Leidar, +44 (0)20 7031 8270, charlie.pryor@leidar.com
Monica Miglani, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, +91124 4744654/+91 9873398590, monica.miglani@ogilvy.com

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, PEOPLE, TOURISM, BUSINESS SERVICES, HOSPITALITY, TRAVEL

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