SITA, the global IT provider to the air transport industry, has been selected to provide key systems to support the smooth opening and operation of Algeria’s new international terminal at Houari Boumediene International Airport. The new terminal, which opened to the public in April 2019, is among the first few airports in North Africa to use SITA’s Airport Management Solution. We spoke to Ibrahim Saleh, VP Sales for Middle East and North Africa at SITA, about the solution and
Can you go into detail about the Airport Management Solution?
SITA’s Airport Management Solution (AMS) is a suite of integrated software applications designed to effectively manage airport operations from the terminal to the airfield enabling airport users to centrally manage everything from passenger processing, baggage handling to the real-time allocation of fundamental resources across the terminal. SITA AMS consists of the following software applications:
- AirportCentral: It provides data capabilities and automated functions for receiving, processing, and distributing consolidated data, allowing for a consistent view of operations in a complex multi-user environment
- AirportResource Manager: This tool enables scheduling, capacity planning and resource management systems for fixed airport resources and simple management of mobile resources including check-in and boarding desks, gates, carousels, baggage chutes, aircraft parking stands
- Flight Information Display system: It shows flight and arrival baggage information details to passengers across the entire terminal
SITA AMS is equipped with powerful reporting tools that help tracking the infrastructure, capacity and resource constraints and generate customised reports for the specific requirements of airport decision makers at all levels and covering all areas of operations performance throughout the airport. In addition, SITA’s automated aeronautical billing systems collect data from all sources operating inside an airport and enable a cost effective and highly accurate revenue collection.
In Algeria, key systems from SITA AMS suite have been selected to support the smooth opening and operations management of Algeria’s new international terminal at Houari Boumediene International Airport. The new terminal, which opened to the public in April 2019, is among the first airports in North Africa to use the latest generation of SITA’s Airport Management Solution.
How has it benefited Houari Boumediene International Airport?
Houari Boumediene International Airport has witnessed average growth in traffic of 13% since 2011. This rapid growth in passenger numbers remains one of the main challenges facing the airport, and the airport authority were looking for a way to better manage every aspect of its operation in a more integrated, streamlined way both in the terminal and on the ramp.
It is in the control room of the airport where SITA systems will deliver the biggest benefit to the airport. The airport operations team will have access to real-time data to better anticipate, plan and control the airport’s operations. This will give the airport a better overview of all activities across the new terminal, resulting in proactive and coordinated decision-making.
By processing data in real time, SITA AMS helps optimise the efficiency of an airport by reducing disruptions ahead of time. The solution provides support for the entire operational flight planning and management processes with strategic, tactical and daily scheduling, improving overall business results.
How many other airports use this technology? Have there been any other airports in Africa that have deployed the solution?
There are 150 deployments of SITA Airport Management Solution (AMS) globally. This includes over 90 airports, 50 airports using ground handling, nine multi-airport environments, and eight airlines. Together, their operations represent 500 million passengers annually, resulting from 4.6 million flight movements.
The deployment in Algiers is one of the first in Africa with our solution also implemented in several Egyptian airports.
What has been the feedback so far at Houari Boumediene International Airport and how long did it take to implement the solution? What software was used?
The feedback from Houari Boumediene International Airport has been very positive from the executive management and key airport operators, resulting in further solutions to be deployed to the international Terminal 1. Allocating the right resources has proven to be the key driver in delivering the project successfully and in a timely manner.
In general terms, what is aviation technology like in Algeria? What improvements need to be made and what are the current trends in the country?
Algeria has more than 35 regional and international airports, with Algiers attracting most of the focus being the main gateway to the country. We believe that technical modernisation can significantly benefit many other Algerian airports, bringing these regional and international airports across the country to the same world-class standards we see at Houari Boumediene. As the experience shows in other African nations, this investment will definitely have a positive economic impact on the country as a whole.
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