Garuda Indonesia selects SITA to support transformation in new five-year deal

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 Garuda’s information technology, while supporting its “Quantum Leap” transformation program as Indonesia prepares to welcome 100 million passengers by 2015.

SITA’s unique network offering has a footprint in more than 220 countries and offers shared infrastructure at over 300 airports, including SITA’s community approach to operational messaging.

Under the new agreement, SITA will extend its current role from managing Garuda’s international network to also managing its domestic network, including some domestic airports. It will also include handling domestic infrastructure vendors, providing end-user computing services and managing operational messaging. This, in turn, will simplify the airline’s administration and billing, provide substantial cost savings, and ensure all end users globally benefit from the same high level of reliability and performance.   

Judi Rifajantoro, Director Strategy, Business Development & Risk Management, Garuda Indonesia, said: “SITA is providing a one-stop shop that meets all our IT needs, including offering additional expertise and know-how to help with our transformation program. With SITA managing our IT infrastructure, we are reducing our costs, simplifying our IT solutions and future-proofing our network, which will position us well to take advantage of future growth. We are now able to provide high-quality network solutions to all our offices around the world.”

Garuda will also enjoy end-to-end visibility of its network status and operational performance via a comprehensive, real-time dashboard. And SITA’s Regional Internet Gateway Service will provide fast Internet access at outstations.

Ilya Gutlin, SITA President Asia-Pacific, said: “SITA is providing a fully-managed enterprise solution for remote sites, as well as town and airport offices around the world. Our new agreement strengthens our ongoing collaboration with Garuda Indonesia to support its transformation and modernization efforts. It’s also a perfect example of how SITA is helping to power growth both for Garuda and also for the wider air transport industry in Indonesia.”

As the first step in the program, SITA helped Garuda migrate to a new reservation system. The project, which was completed in just three months, included providing professional consulting services, deploying the necessary infrastructure for the new system, and supporting the associated new business processes. SITA will continue to collaborate with the airline to optimize and simplify delivery of its network services and support its specific business needs.

Since 2008, passenger numbers in Indonesia have more than doubled to over 82 million, 88% of which is domestic traffic. By 2015, the country’s passenger traffic is expected to reach 100 million—up from 68.7 million in 2013.  Garuda Indonesia’s Quantum Leap program will support this growth by facilitating the airline’s overall expansion and establishing a wider network, a larger fleet and better quality of service by 2015, transforming it into a five-star airline.