OREANDA-NEWS.  On 28 February 2008 was announced, that Moscow Domodedovo International Airport to deploy SITA AirportConnect Open, a next generation IT platform, and SITA DCS, a departure control system.

Moscow Domodedovo International Airport and aviation IT specialist SITA have announced the continuation of their large-scale cooperation to implement the IATA Simplifying the Business initiatives. The partners have signed a contract under which SITA will supply, and the Domodedovo airport will install, SITA Airport Connect CUTE, a common use terminal equipment platform. It supports Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) technology and SITA DepartureControl Services.

“At present, Domodedovo airport services 76 airlines. In 2007, the airport handled 18.7 million passengers and this traffic continues to grow. The airport is a large transfer hub. We intend to become one of the top five European airports by 2020, and we need new technologies to ensure that the airport, and our partner airlines, remain competitive. We are confident that the solutions provided by SITA will enable us to make a significant step in that direction”, - says Sergey Rudakov, Director of Domodedovo Airport Complex.

CUTE (Common Use Terminal Equipment) is at the core of the SITA AirportConnect Open solution. It is able to implement the CUSS (Common Use Self Service) technology required to operate common use self-check-in kiosks. Domodedovo airport plans to install 327 workstations (at the check-in counters) and 12 self-check-in kiosks in the second quarter of 2008. Operation of the AirportConnect Open platform and self-check-in kiosks will enable the airport to significantly improve the quality of service it provides to its passengers and partner airlines and will increase its traffic processing capacity.

“This next generation IT platform will enable our partner airlines to make more effective use of Domodedovo airport infrastructure, while the simple and quick self-check-in procedure, being a regular worldwide practice, will soon become a convenient service for Domodedovo passengers as well”, - Sergey Rudakov comments.

Additionally, under the new contract, Domodedovo airport will install SITA DCS, a departure control system. It can be used by airlines which do not have their own systems. Provision of this service is not typical of airports. Domodedovo is using this practice for the first time because it will enable a number of airlines to save significant resources while taking a full advantage of the next generation technologies that are recommended by IATA and supported by the Domodedovo airport: electronic ticketing, self-check-in kiosks, two-dimensional bar-coding of boarding passes (which cuts costs and reduces the boarding time), RFID luggage labeling (radio-frequency identification that improves reliability of luggage processing). In addition, passengers may check-in for their flights on the airport’s website, www.domodedovo.ru, or using their mobile phones. Furthermore, the new technology makes it possible to check in for connecting flights, even if different airlines are used for different flight segments.

SITA DCS is compatible with any reservation system, provides aircraft weight and balance, and generates all the requisite flight documents for airlines in compliance with the requirements of the international industry standards.

Ilya Gutlin, SITA Vice President for Central and Eastern Europe, notes: “We are happy to take this next step in our successful cooperation with Domodedovo airport. In 2006, Domodedovo was the first airport in Russia to deploy SITA Baggage Reconciliation System. As the Domodedovo airport demonstrates rapid growth rates, it deploys the most advanced technologies that enable it to optimise costs, improve the passenger and airline service quality, and retain the leading market positions”.

Application of the cutting-edge SITA technologies is part of the airport’s strategy designed to enable Domodedovo to retain its current position of leadership and ensure its advance development and successful collaboration with its partners in the long run.