Middle East Airlines, SITA agree on $3 million global IT upgrade

Dubai/Geneva: SITA, provider of IT business solutions and communication services for airlines, announced a five-year $3 million agreement with Middle East Airlines, Lebanon's national airline, to implement and maintain an advanced communication and data infrastructure across 20 of their sites globally.

The implementation will result in speed and data access higher than current levels.

Adib Chreif, Chief Information Officer of Middle East Airlines said: "SITA's IP VPN (Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network) will enable us to connect our offices around the world reliably and seamlessly through one service provider. The IP VPN network will improve the effectiveness of our business applications and cut down on our operating costs."

This migration to IP by MEA is part of the global airline community's commitment to become the first fully IP-enabled industry.

SITA will provide secure Internet access to MEA network users at their sites around the world and will connect their headquarters in Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport to 19 outstations globally through one regional, secured Internet gateway.

Project implementation is underway and will take up to nine months to complete.