ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates and ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 13,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Etihad Airways and IBM (NYSE: IBM)
today announced a ten-year technology services agreement worth
approximately US$700 million. This
will allow the airline to enhance guest experience, develop
world-class infrastructure and security, and improve
efficiency.
The transformational agreement, one of the most important
strategic collaborations by Etihad Airways, will provide access to
the latest cloud-based technologies and services for the airline,
its group companies and equity partners. Etihad Airways, one of the
fastest-growing airlines in the world, carried 14.8 million
passengers in 2014, and serves 113 passenger and cargo
destinations.
IBM will deliver a range of secure and efficient technology
services, allowing Etihad Airways and its partners to transform
their IT infrastructure into global, flexible and agile cloud-based
platforms to better serve their guests and employees.
The agreement includes plans for the creation of a new cloud
data center in Abu Dhabi. The
center, to be developed and operated by IBM, will be one of the
most sophisticated technology facilities in the Middle East.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways'
President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "This is a long-term,
strategic partnership which will allow Etihad Airways and its
partners to harness the latest technologies as we deliver our
award-winning services. This is a game-changing agreement for
Etihad Airways, for our partners and employees, and for
Abu Dhabi."
IBM was selected due its global reach, its experience and
alignment with Etihad Airways' technology and innovation strategy
of deploying cloud-first initiatives to simplify its technology
systems, while offering greater capabilities for lower operational
costs. The cloud, analytics, mobile, security and cognitive
technologies will drive increased efficiencies and effectiveness
for all Etihad Airways businesses, as well as for the Etihad
Airways Partners.
Through IBM's mobile solutions, developed under the Apple-IBM
alliance, the airline will provide enhanced mobile capabilities to
its employees and guests. Other solutions will enable airport
operations to run more efficiently, which will improve the guest
experience as a result of an enhanced end-to-end process.
IBM and Etihad Airways will create a joint technology and
innovation council in Abu Dhabi to
develop more personalised travel solutions using IBM's global
research capabilities and the airline's industry expertise. The
council will focus on value creation for Etihad Airways and its
guests, as well as bringing technological innovation and benefits
to Abu Dhabi and its people.
Robert Webb, Etihad Airways'
Chief Information and Technology Officer, said: "This landmark
agreement, a fundamental part of our technology and innovation
strategy, will bring us a global IT delivery platform that is
secure, resilient and future-ready for Etihad Airways' companies
and equity partner airlines.
"We have chosen IBM as a global technology partner due to its
commitment to its people, its experience in delivering such
transformations, and its history of leadership and innovation in
the airline industry. We are confident that this collaboration will
ultimately enhance our guest experience and reinforce our
competitive position further within the industry."
Martin Jetter, Senior Vice
President, IBM Global Technology Services, said: "By partnering
with IBM in this transformation journey, Etihad Airways is
accelerating the move to new technologies such as cloud computing
and cognitive. These technologies will help the airline to improve
efficiencies and achieve its ambitious growth plans as a globally
integrated aviation group."
Etihad Airways' current data center, IT infrastructure,
applications and security operations will be migrated to the new
data center in Abu Dhabi, and
disaster recovery will be managed at an IBM Cloud data center in
Europe. This approach will allow
the airline to scale and manage its IT resources more efficiently,
while ensuring business continuity.
As part of the agreement, around 100 Etihad Airways information
technology employees will transition to IBM, where they will have
access to further IT skills development opportunities. IBM will
manage the entire data center operation, including individual
infrastructure services and IT helpdesk for Etihad Airways.
The collaboration provides a global framework for technology
service delivery for Etihad Airways and its Etihad Airways Partner
airlines, including Alitalia, airberlin, Jet Airways, Air Serbia,
Air Seychelles and Etihad Regional.
The agreement was signed at the end of September 2015.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2014 carried
14.8 million passengers. From its Abu
Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to or has announced plans
to serve 113 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia,
Australia and the Americas. The
airline has a fleet of 119 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more
than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 66 Boeing 787s, 25
Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and six Airbus A380s.
Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air
Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia,
and Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional. Etihad
Airways, along with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles,
Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI, also participate
in Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand that brings together
like-minded airlines to offer customers more choice through
improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer
benefits. For more information, please visit:
www.etihad.com
About IBM:
For more information about IBM Infrastructure Services, visit:
ibm.com/services
For more information contact:
Etihad
Airways
|
IBM
|
Asif Khan
Corporate Communications
Dir: +971
(0) 2 511 1543 Mob: +971 50 812
1364 Email:
AsifK@etihad.ae
|
Jumana Akkawi, IBM
External Relations
Leader, Middle East & Africa Dir: +971 (0) 4 4498353 Mob: +971 56 6766618 Email: jumanaak@ae.ibm.com
Jeannine Kilbride,
IBM Media Relations U.S. Mob: (860)
997-6277 Email:
jkilbri@us.ibm.com
|
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SOURCE IBM