Information Notice 13

The Royal Aeronautical Society Cyprus Branch is organising the above lecture on Thursday 9th of December 1999 at the Laiki Bank Cultural centre in Makarios Ave. near Woolworth (opposite the confectionery ELLAS) at 18.00hrs.

The above subject will be presented by Mr Christos Ellinides, who is currently the Cyprus
Airways Group I.T. Manager.

Abstract:

It is evident that the multitude of challenges facing the airline industry, from the continuing transformations that the I.T. industry is undergoing, are unique and daring.
These challenges stem, not just from the development of the capacity to speedily adopt complex and new technologies, but also to adapt to outside pressures that are alien to an airline's own deep-rooted culture. Air transport has a background in government and utilities and, despite some
patchy privatisation, still has a civil service mentality. Because of the requirements of flight safety and the disciplines of operating schedules airlines and airports are by nature cautious and conservative.

I.T., on the other hand, is the most rapidly changing industry ever devised by man. Not only does it re-invent itself every 12 months, but it also forces the industries it supports to re-invent themselves as well. At their very heart airlines and airports are dependent on an industry which is
revolutionary rather than evolutionary in character and which demands that they behave in a radical manner.

We live the age of the "Information Society" in which I.T. is a pre-dominant factor. In fact, I.T. has the power to make all industries like itself. How comfortable IT-enabled airlines feel in meeting the reality posed by new technologies will have a significant impact on their fortunes at the beginning of the 21st century.