Caribbean Airports
Helping airports across the region streamline operations
January 2009
SITA continues to facilitate and integrate airport business processes and information systems across the Caribbean, improving efficiency and customer service, making better use of resources, and increasing airport profitability.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean is a unique market place, typified by small island economies with a long-standing history of tourism - with more than 18 million tourist arrivals registered in 2007, up 5% from the previous year.1
Airports across the Caribbean are mostly small, but growing, and are part of a general move across the greater region towards airport privatization. Given that many of the region's airports were originally airfields from the 1940s, there is a widespread need for modernization; this is usually part of the terms of any new concession granted.
SITA partnerships in the region
Airports across the region are upgrading systems and services, and SITA is working closely with them on a multi-year basis. By installing and maintaining IT and networking infrastructure and applications, SITA helps them become more efficient, secure and passenger-friendly.
"We already have staff on the ground even in the smallest Caribbean airports, supporting the wide area network and airlines' desktop operations 24 hours a day," says Olivier Layly, SITA's Regional Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean. "So we're more than happy to help airports in this tight-knit community as they modernize their systems and streamline their operations."
"We focus on the complete integration of technology systems at airports," he continues, "delivering a shared use environment with efficient space utilization and cost reductions - and setting the standard for simplifying complex environments."
Key benefits include:
- Improved tracking of assets
- Reduced facility congestion and better use of check-in positions and gates
- Maximized facility utilization - including rapid expansion,reassignment and down-scaling according to demand
- Increased passenger and aircraft processing without additional construction or facilities
At first, SITA usually works with airports to ensure they gain the full benefits of a shared-use local area network, Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) to optimize airport resources and improve customer service.
SITA manages about 30,000 CUTE workstations used by close to 300 customers in more than 200 airport locations worldwide - checking in more than 600 million passengers annually.
SITA also offers Airport Management Solutions, as a suite of integrated operations software for airports that supports planning, tracking, real-time and irregular operations, flight displays, aeronautical billing and reporting.
Airport Management Solutions comprises four main components, which can be used either standalone, or partially, or fully integrated with other components.
AirportCentral (AODB) is the core database of airport operations software where information is stored, maintained and shared with stakeholders, helping airports to overcome the complex challenges inherent in managing multi-user facilities. It can also help to improve billing by ensuring all movements are tracked and loads captured.
AirportHandling Manager is an expert system for airports and handlers that supports the planning and operational management of human resources and mobile ramp equipment ranging from capacity planning to detailed task allocation.
AirportResource Manager (RMS) is a system for airports that supports capacity planning and provides expert guidance for the optimal allocation and real-time management of fixed airport resources such as aircraft parking stands, departure gates and baggage carousels.
AirportVision (FIDS) is an information display system for airports that provides real-time flight and related information to all stakeholders and the public on a variety of display devices within an airport, on websites and at off-airport locations.
Examples of SITA partnerships with airports in the Caribbean region include Aruba, Cancún, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Grenada, Jamaica, St Maarten, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. In each of these, SITA delivered a complete project to the customer, all the way through from sales, to solution, to delivery and operation. Several of these projects are described in more detail on the following pages.
1. Source: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, June 2008, available at www.unwto.org
Curaçao
In 2003, Curaçao Airport Partners (CAP), a consortium led by Alterra Partners, won a 30-year concession to develop and operate Curaçao International Airport. The airport is growing steadily, and handled 1.3 million passengers in 2007, with aircraft movements doubling between 2005 and 2007. Today, some 16 airlines offer direct flights to 18 destinations.
Business issues
CAP's first decision on taking over the airport was to build a new terminal, adopting leading-edge technology. The new terminal, which opened in 2006, can handle up to 1.6 million passengers a year, and has expansion capacity to accommodate 2.5 million.
SITA's solution
As part of a series of five-year contracts, worth a combined US$ 6 million, CAP engaged SITA to implement state-of-the-art Airport Management Solutions, comprising:
- AirportConnect CUTE, with 70 workstations
- MaestroDCS Local (SITA's local departure control system)
- AirportVision, with 45 multi-use flight information displays
- AirportConnect Campus (the first to be implemented in the Caribbean)
- Fixed and wireless networks
- Onsite support and personnel
Why SITA was selected
SITA had previously implemented a similar solution in Costa Rica, and CAP asked SITA to replicate this in Curaçao. As a single provider, capable of implementing complex integrated solutions, SITA also benefited from already being onsite in Curaçao.
"CAP has enjoyed an excellent commercial/partnership relationship with SITA in installing and maintaining the CUTE/MUFIDS system for our new terminal. By using the SITA common use system we were able to save on capital costs to meet the government's requirements for check-in and passenger performance standards. Without the SITA common use facilities, we would have had to construct 54 check-in counters instead of the 34 we provided. New carriers have started service to Curaçao and departing traffic has increased by approximately 45% since the year before the new terminal opened in 2006 - which could not have been processed without CUTE. SITA has always been very responsive and works closely with CAP as we anticipate problems and plan for future growth."
Walter Abernathy, CEO, CAP, Curaçao Airport
Jamaica
Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) serves Jamaica's capital, Kingston, and handles some 1.7 million passengers a year.
The airport is undergoing a huge programme of redevelopment, refurbishment and expansion, which will see it transformed into a spacious and modern facility with services and facilities to meet the needs and expectations of today's travellers, as well as airport partners and other users.
Business issues
As part of the process of modernizing the airport, NMIA wanted to introduce a state-of-the-art passenger processing system to meet the needs of the airlines which serve Kingston, and to improve the flow of passengers through the new terminal building.
SITA's solution
In a contract valued at US$ 4 million, the Airports Authority of Jamaica asked SITA to deploy SITA's AirportConnect Open, which provides for 108 check-in locations for common use by airlines, as well as 60 new AirportVision flight information displays, and the capability for airlines to use SITA's local departure control system, MaestroDCS Local.
SITA is also delivering AirportCentral, the airport operations database (AODB), with limited functionality to support NMIA's Resource Management System and FIDS, in an effort to maximize the use of shared infrastructure, reduce congestion and bring down handling costs at the airport.
The locally-deployed AirportConnect Open system is web-enabled and based on Windows XP. It supports passenger processing applications such as departure control and boarding systems, and is capable of full integration with airport operations systems such as FIDS and baggage management systems.
Following the implementation of CUTE and AirportCentral, Common Use Self Service (CUSS) kiosks were also implemented.
Why SITA was selected
NMIA selected SITA for a number of reasons, including:
- Greatest compliance with the requirements
- Local presence in Jamaica, with more than 15 years' experience
- Successful implementations at other airports in the region
- Competitive pricing
"Norman Manley International Airport will be transformed by our modernization programme. We will have a very pleasant passenger environment thanks to a new terminal building and we are also going to improve the quality of the travel experience through the smart deployment of IT to the benefit of both airlines and passengers thanks to our collaboration with SITA - which won this tender in a very tough competition."
Earl Richards, President, Airports Authority of Jamaica
St Maarten
St Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) has come a long way since it became the region's first civilian airport in 1943, and today focuses on being a regional leader in providing safe, secure, quality and profitable airport services that contribute to general economic and tourism development.
The airport handles around 1.7 million passengers a year, and has recently spent US$ 118 million on building a brand new terminal with 11 gates, 46 check-in positions, 27 retail shops and 12 food and beverage establishments.
Business issues
As part of the investment in the new terminal, PJIA wanted to deliver state-of-the-art services to its customers.
SITA's solution
After a competitive tender, PJIA asked SITA to implement 92 CUTE workstations and 105 AirportVision flight information displays, to ensure the airport was capable of delivering first class services to its customers, using the best technology available.
PJIA is now in discussions with SITA to implement a number of kiosks for self service check-in.
Why SITA was selected
SITA was already onsite in St Maarten, providing support for the wide area network, and airlines' desktops, and had proven to be capable and responsive, as well as cost-competitive. SITA's trump card, however, was its service excellence - one of SITA's support people, for example, once braved a serious snow storm in New York to travel to St Maarten and provide the prompt service the airport needed.
"SITA delivers outstanding service excellence, 24 hour support, and unrivalled dedication to the customer. It's no wonder that SITA has a good reputation in the region."
Eugene Holiday, CEO, Princess Juliana International Airport
Trinidad & Tobago
The Airports Authority of Trinidad & Tobago (AATT) manages two airports: Trinidad's Piarco International, and Tobago's Crown Point International. Piarco handles almost 2.5 million passengers annually, and has invested heavily in a new terminal which was completed in 2001.
Business issues
With a brand new terminal, AATT wanted the latest technology available to optimize space and reduce costs.
SITA's solution
SITA was contracted to provide common use check-in positions and flight information displays at Piarco, and today manages 126 CUTE workstations and 105 flight information displays.
In 2006, SITA's local departure control system, MaestroDCS Local, was introduced for charter airlines at Piarco, reducing the check-in time for these operators by 50%.
In early 2007, SITA implemented its AirportVision system which allowed the latest live flight information from the Civil Aviation Authority to be fed directly to on new LCD monitors across the whole airport.
SITA is now in discussions with AATT to upgrade CUTE at Piarco and to implement CUTE at Crown Point, to maximize the use of limited space to better accommodate all the airlines operating from Tobago, and to consider implementing self-service check-in kiosks at Piarco.
Why SITA was selected
SITA was chosen by AATT over a number of competitors, partly because of competitive pricing and the unique range of integrated services, but also because of SITA's local presence and its successful airport implementation in Aruba. The CUTE charging model chosen - per passenger boarded - was also a further factor in SITA's favour, as it results in extra revenue for AATT.
"My experience with SITA has been transformed from somewhat combative in the early days to collaborative now, and the SITA products and services at Piarco have improved customer service at the check-in counter and provide information to passengers and visitors to the airport - with the potential for improving the accuracy of our billing to airlines; similar benefits are projected for Crown Point."
Louis Frederick, Deputy General Manager, Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
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