NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Nigeria: Abuja Airport Now IATA StB Compliant

By Lateef Lawal

MAEVIS Nigeria Limited, in conjuction with key industry partners, especially the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), British Airways, RESA, IER and other stakeholders, has completed a key milestone in making Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport (NAIA) the second IATA StB compliant airport in Nigeria.

The Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos(MMIA) became compliant in August 2008. British Airways (BA) – a One World Alliance partner airline, and MAEVIS launch partner airline commenced the use of full 2D Bar Coded Boarding Pass (BCBP) Departure Control Systems (DCS) operations on a fully IATA compliant CUTE systems for all Abuja international passengers on her Abuja - London and points beyond international flights from August 16, 2010. ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria.

This development makes Nigeria’s Abuja airport fully compliant ahead of the IATA/ACI deadline of December 2010. According to the Managing Director of Maevis, Mr Tunde Fagbemi, this achievement "is also a true testimony of the resilience of the FAAN/Maevis team (a true Nigerian spirit), the extensive Infrastructure, Superstructure and Systems deployment at these Airports and the many tests, customisation and certification by British Airways, Lufthansa, Delta Airlines, Air Nigeria and our numerous IATA/ACI certified deployment partners and personnel".

Fagbemi added, "now that we are fully certified and gone live, we are confident that in the coming days other Airlines and their passengers using NAIA will gradually cut over to the new world class systems and Brand new Check-in-Desks and ultra modern check-in platform /systems provided by MAEVIS on a PPP – BOOT basis. As noted by IATA, these systems would further simplify the check-in and boarding process for all passengers who use NAIA and help to make Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) drive for excellence in customer service and make international standards and other Technology friendly expectations at our airports a reality."

The full implementation of the 2D bar-coded boarding passes enables:

-*Fast and convenient check-in and boarding.

-*Boarding with home printed 2D bar coded boarding passes.

-*Issuance of Mobile phone 2D bar coded boarding passes.

-*Several other passenger facilitation delights for airport customers and Aviation Stakeholders. ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: FAAN logo On A Nigerian Map in Nigerian Flag Colours

Maevis is a world-class Airports Infrastructure, Airports Operations Automation Systems provider Integrated ICT business solutions expert and Out Sourced Service provider. Maevis is FAAN’s partner under a PPP agreement - the team is committed to the renewal, revamping and upgrading of FAAN Airports Operations Management Systems (AOMS) and the renewal of certain defined infrastructure, superstructure and systems at Airports and Terminals located at four International Airports in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

The current deployment at NAIA includes the Building of a Brand new World Class level 4 Data Centre, laying of a brand new ICT backbone for the aviation industry, the re-cabling of the Fiber Optic cable at the airports & the installation of modern servers, a brand new Communications network linking all Airlines and their host Airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano & Port Harcourt, deployment of a full suite AOMS Systems, a Full IATA compliant 2D BCBP compliant CUTE /DCS System, the renewal/revamping of the Check in counters, check-in area, replacement of all current Servers, PCs, Printers etc at these airports with 2D barcode-compatible machines, and the introduction of 2D barcode readers at boarding gates in line with ICAO, ACI & IATA standards.

Since the deployment Friday, August 20, passengers have been able to print their own 2D bar-coded boarding passes at home or at the office and proceed directly to baggage drop-off or through security at NAIA enroute to their boarding gates and destinations of choice. ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria.

Fagbemi noted that the company had made provisions for all local airlines and any other operators on all its new check-in counters and boarding gate stations to issue and read 2D BCBPs even if their Departure Control Systems (DCSs) have not been upgraded to handle them or if they do not currently have their own CRS and Departure Control System.

The unique approach that Maevis has taken with this technology implementation at NAIA, according to him was fashioned after its earlier deployment in August 2008 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) which has been described by many industry stakeholders as impressive. Not only are the day-to-day needs of the Airlines supported with shared workstations, Maevis is investing for the future of the Airlines, FAAN and indeed assisting the entire aviation industry in Nigeria to fully implement IATA's Simplifying the Business objectives with the aim of creating:

-*more opportunities for airports;

-*more convenience for passengers and lower costs for the industry.

The technology reduces costs and improves customer service for both airlines and airports by introducing faster and easier check-in. This system offers the passenger more self-service options during their journey through the airport. This also translates into paper documents being converted into electronic messages both for passengers and air cargo, saving time and increasing accuracy. This new system deployed at NAIA will result in less time spent at check-in, giving longer commercial dwell time to travelers and offering passengers more pleasant travelling experience.

Lateef Lawal (NigerianAviationNews)

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