SITA - Air Transport Communication and IT solutions.

With a target of 40 million passengers by 2012 and preparations underway for the final World Championship Formula One race of the 2009 season, the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) is simplifying check-in by installing SITA’s CUSS (common use self-service) kiosks at Abu Dhabi International Airport. 

In this five-year, US $2.2 million deal, SITA will install 24 kiosks across Abu Dhabi International Airport’s three terminals. In addition, SITA will provide ongoing maintenance across the critical systems at both of the ADAC-operated international airports in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Through shared use among all the airlines operating at the airport, SITA’s CUSS kiosks will allow ADAC to increase capacity during peak times and avoid the need to invest in fixed check-in areas. The 24 new kiosks will be in operation in September.

Michael J. Ibbitson, VP Information & Communication Systems, ADAC, said: “The use of these CUSS kiosks will deliver faster and more convenient check-in, ensuring that both our passengers and our airline customers receive the highest level of service. By providing common-use kiosks we can accommodate the extra flow of travellers during peak hours and for special events such as the hosting of Formula One in November and the FIFA Club World Cup in December”.

Hamed Al Hashemi, Head of ICS Operations, ADAC, said: “We have the extra assurance with this agreement that we will have full support at both our airports from a single, dedicated supplier. SITA is a proven global provider for airport operations and will ensure that all our critical systems, including check-in and baggage reconciliation, will be consistently available.”

Hani El Assaad, SITA Regional Vice President Middle East and Turkey, said: “SITA is hugely experienced in supporting airports for major world events, most recently our systems managed the massive surge in traffic at Beijing Capital International Airport for the Olympic Games.

“Our unique understanding will support ADAC not only for the Formula One event but going forward as the company expands its annual capacity to 40 million passengers with the development of the new Midfield Terminal Complex over the coming years.”

With the CUSS kiosks, SITA will provide an end-to-end managed solution complementing other airport check-in services available at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which is experiencing significant growth; passenger traffic was up 30.2 per cent  in 2008 to 9.02 million, from 6.9 million in 2007. Recent figures have shown that traffic volumes have increased 8.1 per cent in first six months of 2009.