AACO and SITA to announce game-changing projects around digital identity and sustainability management

04-11-23

• Three AACO member airlines will be the first to trial these solutions

The Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) and SITA, the leading IT provider to the air transport industry, today announced the launch of pilot projects that will tackle two critical challenges facing airlines today: sustainability management and digital identity.

Announced at the AACO’s AGM taking place in Riyadh this week, the two solutions will be trialed over the next few months with three AACO member airlines.

SITA’s Sustainability Management Solution will use data to help the industry measure and manage their operational carbon footwork while meeting fast-evolving sustainability requirements. The Travel Digital Identity Solution will transform conventional, manual passenger identification checks to one simple digital check, based on the biometric information that can be digitally verified at each point in the journey. With SITA’s expertise, these projects promise operational and reputational benefits for AACO member airlines and the broader air transport industry, as well as providing passengers with a smoother travel experience.

Sustainability Management 

The aviation industry faces the urgent challenge of reducing its carbon footprint. Governments and aviation authorities are introducing stringent regulations, including EU-ETS and sustainable aviation fuel mandates. Airlines are also under growing pressure to meet corporate clients’ and passengers’ growing environmental expectations, leading to significant financial and reputational challenges.

The Sustainability Management Solution seamlessly connects diverse data sources, harnesses cutting-edge analytics and predictive modeling to empower airlines with insights needed to meet ever-changing regulatory requirements and demands for transparency from passengers.

Travel Digital Identity

Identity verification across the journey today requires multiple manual checks at airport entry, check-in, security, border control, and boarding. While essential for security, these processes introduce complexity, operational hurdles, and decreased passenger satisfaction.

SITA’s Travel Digital Identity Solution enables airlines, airports, and governments to verify a passenger’s identity and travel documents digitally by matching the biometrics data on their documents to an ICAO-compliant digital identity held on their mobile device. This solution will consolidate all travel documents into a single identity. 

Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of AACO, said: “I am pleased that AACO and SITA were able to identify together the need to develop solutions that help airlines manage how they can be environmentally sustainable and provide their customers with clarity about their actual carbon footprint. We also identified that air travel should benefit from technology to make travel hassle-free through airlines, airports and border control. I am very happy that SITA was able to deliver, in a short period of time, two solutions that address exactly what the customers, airlines, airports and regulatory agencies all over the world need. AACO members and partners will be the launchpad for the solutions. And with SITA's global presence and drive for innovation, the whole world will benefit from them.” 

David Lavorel, CEO of SITA, said: “SITA has always prided itself on its global footprint, strong community dedication and industry expertise to transform the industry at scale and speed. With AACO and its member and partner airlines, we have strong partners in building, testing and deploying solutions that we know will benefit the industry, its customers and passengers, and the global aviation community.”