SITA is planning to bid for the IT systems that will be used at the secondary airports that the Indian Government is planning to modernise.
Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques or SITA is a pioneer in international telecommunications for the air transport industry.
Stating that the company was not an airport development company and therefore will only look to bid for IT services at the secondary airports, the President, Middle East, India and Africa, Mr Hani El Assaad expressed the hope that SITA will become a partner for the development of the airport business in India. He added that India was an “interesting and challenging market” for the company.
Big investment
The Indian Government estimates that an investment of around Rs 67,000 crore will be required during the 12th plan period for the development and modernisation of airports around the country. India has over 450 airports of which less than 100 are currently operational.
Apart from the airport sector, SITA is also investing in India in human resources and in offshore partnerships with companies like Mindtree and NIIT among others. “India is not only a market but also factory for the world,” pointed out Mr Maneesh Jaikrishna, Vice-President, India and the Sub-continent.
Main growth engine
SITA has five business lines including one related to infrastructure, and another called airport solution line which provides passenger services like reservations and fare quotes. All the five lines are present in India. According to SITA officials, airports have been the main engine of growth as a lot of activity is taking place in this sector.