IBM signs $300m IT Infrastructure deal with Emirates Airline

Tech giant IBM has signed a 10-year technology services agreement with Dubai-based Emirates Airline to provide IT infrastructure, allowing the airline to improve efficiency on its passenger support systems and functions. According to a joint statement released here today, the deal is worth $300 million.

The agreement provides fully managed services for the IBM mainframe and storage that will help Emirates encrypt data in near real-time. The platform also allows the airline to build new apps to support the API [application programming interfaces] Economy - a commercial exchange of business functions, capabilities, or competencies as services packaged in APIs.

Emirates has run its ticketing and reservations system on the IBM mainframe for more than 30 years. IBM’s z Systems is the foundation for all of the airline’s mission critical data and transactions.

They collaborated earlier this year to enhance its Passenger Service System (PSS). IBM technology and services will allow Emirates to re-design its business processes and streamline airport operations, the statement said.

z Systems technology has enabled Emirates Airline to process ultra-high volumes of real-time business transactions including flight reservations, inventory, check-in, ticketing, and flight information.