80 jobs at SITA in Letterkenny

SITA is unique as the only global IT provider still owned by the industry it serves. Our solutions and services are vital to the well-being of the air transport system worldwide from flight operations to baggage management. The benefits of the work carried out in Letterkenny are felt far and wide in our industry. The quality of the work done here in Letterkenny is outstanding and we are delighted at the opportunity to fill these new positions and cement our ties with the local community.

Francesco Violante, CEO, SITA

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan TD today (Monday 28 September 2009) welcomed the announcement by SITA, a software company in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, of its recruitment of a further 80 jobs over the next 12 months.  It will bring employment to 150 people and follows the expansion of operations and a move into new premises in order to meet the growth in demand for its products and services. The Tánaiste was in Letterkenny to perform the official opening of the new premises at the Windy Hall Office Park. This recruitment is the fulfilment of SITA’s project as announced in 2005, which is supported by Government through IDA Ireland.

SITA is actively recruiting and will attend the GradIreland Graduate Careers Fair, in Dublin on October 21st. More information on its operations and the employment opportunities on offer are available at www.sita.aero

SITA is the world's leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions. SITA’s operation in Letterkenny was established following its acquisition in 2003 of Eland Technologies, an Irish software company. 

An Tánaiste said “the expansion into the new facility, the growth of operations and the commencement of further recruitment is excellent news as it further embeds the facility in Letterkenny and offers additional high value employment to the people of the area.  It is also a further significant endorsement of Letterkenny and the whole North-West as a location where international investments can develop and thrive and it demonstrates SITA’s confidence in the area’s ability to support its knowledge-intensive and highly-skilled activities.”

SITA is owned by the air transport industry and its partners, which include airlines, airports and air transport organisations throughout the world.  Its services and solutions are provided for every stage of a journey, from reservation web bookings and ticketing through check-in, border management and baggage tracking, to departure, flight operations and in-flight communications.

Francesco Violante, CEO, SITA, said: “SITA’s development team in Letterkeny has consistently delivered work of a very high standard. When deciding on software development locations we are spoiled for choice but the high performance of our Irish staff and the support and cooperation of the IDA have convinced us to expand our Letterkenny facility and to bring other IT development work to the site that might have been done elsewhere.”

“SITA is unique as the only global IT provider still owned by the industry it serves. Our solutions and services are vital to the well-being of the air transport system worldwide from flight operations to baggage management. The benefits of the work carried out in Letterkenny are felt far and wide in our industry. The quality of the work done here in Letterkenny is outstanding and we are delighted at the opportunity to fill these new positions and cement our ties with the local community.”

About SITA
SITA is the world's leading specialist in air transport communication and IT solutions. SITA delivers and manages business solutions for airline, airport, GDS, government and other customers over the world’s most extensive network, which forms the communications backbone of the global air transport industry.

SITA’s portfolio includes managed global communications, infrastructure and outsourcing services, as well as services for airline commercial management and passenger operations, flight operations, aircraft operations and air-to-ground communications, airport management and operations, baggage operations, transportation security and border management, cargo operations and more. With a customer service team of over 1,600 staff around the world, SITA invests significantly in achieving best-in-class customer service, providing integrated local and global support for both its communications and IT application services.

SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is the leading provider of in-flight connectivity, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company dedicated solely to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community: Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management.

SITA is one of the world's most international companies. Its global reach is based on local presence, with services for around 550 air transport industry members and 3,200 customers in over 200 countries and territories. In 2009, the company celebrates 60 years in business. Set up in 1949 with 11 member airlines, SITA today employs people of more than 140 nationalities, speaking over 70 different languages. SITA had consolidated revenues of over US$1.47 billion (€1.13 billion) in 2008.

For further information go to www.sita.aero
   
About SITA in Ireland
SITA’s Letterkenny operation was established following SITA’s purchase of Eland Technologies, an Irish software company, in August 2003.  It has been integrated into SITA’s Application Services business unit and the Letterkenny team is responsible for software development of products and services in the areas of border management, e-commerce, airport management systems and integration.

At Dublin Airport, SITA is the Systems Integrator for the specialist IT and communications systems for the airport's new €395 million Terminal Two. Other SITA operations in Ireland include, Aviareto, which is based in Dublin and is a joint venture between SITA and the Irish Government. It is contracted by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) to establish and operate the International Registry of mobile assets as required by the Cape Town Treaty 2001. OnAir, a subsidiary of SITA, is the company that provides inflight mobile usage to Ryanair’s passengers since March of this year.

Further information can be found at www.sita.aero

For further information please contact –

SITA 
Denis McClean, Director, Public Relations
Tel: +41-22-747-6824
Mobile: +41-79-2173357
Email: Denis.McClean@sita.aero
   
SITA
Brenda Flinter, PR Manager
Mobile: +353 87 750 6229
Email: Brenda.Flinter@sita.aero

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment –
Press Office, Tel: 01- 6312200         
Roisin McCann, Mob: 0872594144

IDA Ireland –
Antoinette Tyrrell, Press & PR, Mob: 087 7572053