EDS today announced that SA`s Nationwide Airlines has signed a five-year contract for EDS`s Passenger Service Systems (PSS), to be hosted in EDS`s EMEA Air Transportation Data Centre in Zurich, as well as for inventory control systems and telecommunications.
In terms of a broad agreement, Nationwide will also have the opportunity to select additional EDS services to enhance agent productivity and operational efficiency.
Nationwide Airlines operates from Johannesburg, South Africa, and currently provides routes across the southern Africa region. Nationwide became a fully hosted PSS carrier in September 2002, having previously been sub-hosted by the former Sabena World Airlines.
Nationwide`s projected bookings for 2003 are 900 000, with 650 000 passengers already having used the airline this year. The annual growth rate of 20% in 2002 is projected to continue until 2004, in part fuelled by the boom in tourist- and increasingly business-related travel in the region, and in part by an expansion into international routes. Nationwide will launch three flights to London`s Gatwick Airport in November.
EDS`s Passenger Service Systems include reservation (axsRes), departure control (axsControl) and related solutions such as axsMessaging and Networking Services.
Vernon Bricknell, CEO of Nationwide, said: "Nationwide is familiar with axsRes through having used it for many years as a Sabena sub-contractor. This new contract is based on that experience and the close, collaborative relationship we have built up with EDS over this time. We are looking to this partnership to support the strong growth Nationwide projects."
Stefan Leser, responsible for EDS`s EMEA Air Transportation Business, said: "We are looking forward to helping Nationwide Airlines with its route expansion plans, and we`re proud that this new agreement, which will continue until August 2008, extends the long-standing relationship between EDS and the airline."
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Nationwide started operations in 1991, providing services within Africa for the United Nations and World Food Programme as well as other passenger and cargo charters. In 1995, a scheduled airline service was established to provide domestic services within SA. In December 2000, Nationwide Airlines became a full participant in Virgin Atlantic`s frequent flyer programme.
The relationship has been extended to embrace interline and code-share agreements. Other interline agreements exist with KLM & Northwest Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Botswana, Singapore Airlines, Air Mauritius, Swiss Airlines, Air Seychelles, Cathay Pacific, Egypt Air, Qantas Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Air Namibia, Air Sinai, TAP - Air Potugal, South African Airways, Interair and Regional Air.
Operating a fleet of 23 jet aircraft, mainly consisting of Boeing 727 and Boeing 737 aircraft, plus one long-haul Boeing 767-300ER, Nationwide has carried over three million passengers since its inception. Learn more at http://www.flynationwide.co.za.
EDS
EDS, the premier global outsourcing services company, delivers superior returns to clients through its cost-effective, high-value services model. EDS`s core portfolio comprises information-technology and business process outsourcing services, as well as IT transformation services. EDS`s two complementary, subsidiary businesses are AT Kearney, one of the world`s leading high-value management consultancies, and PLM Solutions, a leader in product design and production line management software. With 2002 revenue of $21.5 billion, EDS is ranked 80th on the Fortune 500. The company`s stock is traded on the New York (NYSE: EDS) and London stock exchanges. Learn more at www.eds.com.