KLIA partners with SITA to be the first fully integrated Airport in Asia

Equipped with 36 self-service kiosks, and a modern suite of baggage reconciliation systems, the application of SITA INC's CUTE (Common Use Terminal Equipment) Integrated Network and Terminal Application (CINTA) will form part of KLIA's major move to replenish its IT infrastructure as it prepares for expansion in passenger numbers.

For the signing ceremony, Malaysia Airports was represented by its Managing Director, Y.Bhg. Dato' Seri Bashir Ahmad and Encik Azmi Murad, General Manager KLIA while SITA INC was represented by its Regional Vice President, Mr. Paul Dalton and Mr. Adrian Ching, Client Director. Present to witness the signing ceremony were YB Dato' Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport Malaysia and Mr. Russell Lewis, SITA's Regional Vice President of Airport & Desktop Services, Asia Pacific.

"We are very pleased to collaborate with SITA INC in the coming years as we continue to enhance our services to the passengers," said Dato' Seri Bashir Ahmad.

"IT will play an essential role in helping us to optimize the airport's assets and to improve the passenger experience for the growing numbers spending quality time here. As we prepare to receive the A380, we are taking steps to establish KLIA as a major hub for Asia and SITA INC has an important role to play in helping us to realise that vision by ensuring that we can benefit fully from the latest innovation in airport technology," he added.

The package has been carefully negotiated over the last three years resulting in today's agreement. The airport solutions include SITA AirportConnect CUTE and kiosks, a suite of software (including BagManager baggage reconciliation system, BagMessage global message distribution system, BagFast fallback system for sortation tags, PassengerHandler common language check-in & boarding application, Maestro Departure Control System and Mobi-Check mobile check-in); and full operational support for five years with helpdesk and on-site support. SITA INC will also install at KLIA the latest interface software development for Baggage Handling System (BHS) and Flight Information Display System (FIDS).

AirportConnect CUTE will allow airport staff to serve passengers in a more efficient and smoother check-in process while AirportConnect Kiosks will enable passengers to check in through self-service at their own convenience. Kiosks also allow frequent travelers to avoid crowded check-in lines, and frees the airline personnel to concentrate on delivering superior customer service to passengers with special requirements. Baggage Reconciliation System helps ensure that passengers' bags are handled efficiently and reliably, thus minimising lost baggage while maximising passenger satisfaction.

SITA INC has been working with KLIA since it first opened in 1998. In addition to being the home base of Malaysia Airlines, it has become an important hub for many airlines. In fact, SITA's CUTE system is shared by 40 airlines operating at KLIA, including Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, Emirates, Air China and China Airlines.

"SITA's Airport solutions provide KLIA the flexibility of an open architecture operating platform that allows the airlines at the airport to enjoy the benefits of sharing dedicated IT systems and facilities, including the check-in counters and self-service check-in kiosks," said Russ Lewis, SITA's Regional Vice President of Airport & Desktop Services, Asia Pacific.

"This maximizes the airport's limited terminal space, while helping airlines to increase efficiency and reduce costs - the two most vital factors in today's airline business," he added.

SITA INC's solutions are designed to help airports optimize and improve the passenger experience through reduced congestion and simplified passenger processing, optimized airport assets and reduced costs. They provide airports with the technology architecture required to take advantage of a broad range of IP-based services which are vital to the future of the air transport industry.

SITA INC currently manages some 30,000 CUTE workstations for 285 customers in more than 200 airports worldwide, checking-in an estimated 580 million passengers a year.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad is a CAPA Member. For more information on the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation's membership service, please click the icon below.