

News: The Dubai-based carrier has been working with IBM on its ticketing and reservation systems for over 30 years.
IBM has signed a $300m, 10-year technology services agreement with Dubai’s Emirates Airline.
The Dubai-based carrier, which is the largest in the world in terms of international traffic, has been working with IBM on its ticketing and reservation systems for over 30 years.
Under the new agreement, IBM will provide IT infrastructure services, enabling the airline to improve efficiency on its passenger support systems and functions.
The deal calls for fully managed services using IBM’s mainframe and data storage, helping Emirates to encrypt data in near real-time.
The new platform also allows Emirates to build its own apps as it shifts to the API economy to enhance its business.
By using the managed services delivery model, IBM hopes that Emirates will be able to enhance business application performance, resilience, scalability, and make operational savings.
Emirates had collaborated with IBM earlier this year to improve its Passenger Service System.
IBM technology and services will enable the airline to re-design its business processes and streamline airport operations.
The airline carries out all of its mission critical data and transactions using IBM’s z Systems, which helps in the creation of better customer experiences via mobile and analytics,
z Systems deliver agility and efficiency via cloud, and ensure always on service and data protection, according to IBM.
Using the z Systems technology, the airline processed ultra-high volumes of real-time business transactions such as flight reservations, inventory, check-in, ticketing, and flight information.
IBM technology allows the airline’s travellers to have reliable, secure ticketing and gate information irrespective of their location.
The deal marks IBM’s second agreement in the Middle East civil aviation industry.
Last October, Etihad Airways signed a ten-year tech services deal with IBM for around $700m. The agreement includes plans for the creation of a new cloud data centre in Abu Dhabi.
The centre to be developed and operated by IBM will be one of the most sophisticated technology facilities in the Middle East.