Air Transport Communications and IT Solutions

Low cost carriers, GoAir and IndiGo, today became the latest Indian companies to join SITA, the community-owned air transport communications and IT specialist. The two organizations join 450 leading airlines, airports, governments, air freight carriers and other stakeholders who are all connected over a single communications network covering 17,500 industry sites around the world.

Maneesh Jaikrishna, Vice President, SITA India and Subcontinent, said: “We are delighted that two more influential players, Indigo and GoAir, have joined the illustrious league of SITA members in India including Air India, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Mumbai, Bangalore and Cochin International Airports.

“For 65 years, the biggest players in global aviation have used their ownership of SITA to ensure that our industry’s critical communications and information technology needs are addressed and made available to all, on a shared services or common-use basis. The rapid growth of air travel over that time and the role that technology now plays to help the industry operate smoothly is testimony to the success of SITA’s community-based model.”

The fast-growing Indian aviation sector, which is expected to triple to 450 million passengers by 2020, increasingly benefits from SITA’s community investment in technology, which reduces the total cost of ownership. For example, Indian airports and airlines are using SITA’s state-of-the-art technologies to optimize infrastructure and available resources, bolster security and improve operational efficiency and profitability. This helps enhance the passenger experience, without the airlines and airports having to invest time, money and resources into developing their own systems.

Giorgio De Roni, CEO of GoAir, said: “We joined SITA because they work closely with their members to research and develop technology solutions for common business issues we all face.”

Aditya Ghosh, President of IndiGo, said: “Becoming a SITA member gives us the ability to influence the strategic direction of technology in air transport, while remaining focused on our core business. We incorporate the best hardware, software, interface design and personnel from around the world, so we can offer passengers a uniquely smooth, seamless, precise and gimmick-free customer experience at fares that are always affordable. IndiGo has partnered with SITA for Network Communications and Aircraft Communications.”

GoAir, a low-cost carrier, launched its operations in November 2005 with the objective of commoditizing air travel and offering seats at a marginal premium to train fares across India. The airline currently operates across 21 destinations over 100 daily flights.

Founded in 2006, IndiGo is one of the fastest growing low cost carriers in the world, and is the largest airline in India on the basis of market share. With its fleet of 77 new Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline offers 473 daily flights connecting to 36 destinations.