Airlines meet India’s APIS needs

More than 50 airlines flying into India will use SITA’s communications network to meet new Indian government requirements for the provision of advance passenger information 15 minutes after flight departure.

Following a test period, the airlines are now using SITA’s community-based Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). The application has been customized to meet the Indian government’s new security requirements – particularly for submission of APIS data in XML files rather than standard US or UN Edifact.

By the end of 2008 most airlines, serving some 75 percent of all India bound passengers, will deliver APIS information using this system.

The SITA application is being deployed for airlines flying into six major airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin, Hyderabad and Chennai. SITA currently provides APIS services in Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Kuwait, UK, USA, New Zealand and Spain.

US security update

An increasing number of airlines flying to and from the US are adopting SITA’s real-time passenger screening service to meet the new security requirements set by the US Department of Homeland Security (Advance Passenger Information Quick Query – AQQ).

To date around 15 airlines have signed up to the service and interest is increasing as airlines look for simple and quick ways to comply with the security rules.

Carriers currently using AQQ include Aerosvit, Air New Zealand, Aviasca, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways and Uzbekistan Airways. Airlines that have been certified, while not yet implementing the service, include Air Transat, Royal Jordanian SATA, Skyservice and Transportes Aereos De Cabo Verde.