China Eastern to save US$4m with new airport system

China Eastern Airlines has projected that it will save US$4 million this year following the deployment of a new airport IT system.

The Shanghai-based carrier has installed SITA‘s Hub Control Center (HCC), allowing it to manage delays and disruptions by reallocating gates and staff, suggesting flight schedule changes and re-accommodates passengers.

Since deploying the system, China Eastern said it has recorded a 16% drop in staffing hours and a 60% reduction in overtime for ground operations.

“We have worked closely with SITA to develop our new HCC and the results we have seen from using SITA’s integrated technology for our ground operations are impressive. The cost savings we are experiencing will see the investment pay for itself in less than a year,” said Hu Zhenming, China Eastern’s chief service officer & general director of airport service.

“Importantly too, our operations are running more efficiently and our passengers are benefiting from improved service.”
Following the initial roll-out at Shanghai‘s Pudong and Hongqiao airports, China Eastern has now started the implementing the HCC in Beijing, Kunming and Xi’an.

“China Eastern, with its new Hub Control Center, is one of the first [airlines] to reap the benefit of using data effectively, in real time, to make better decisions to improve operations every day,” said Ilya Gutlin, SITA’s president for Asia Pacific.

“The airline is now providing better service to passengers, and the systems cross-utilise resources and enable collaborative decision making while delivering millions of dollars savings to the bottom line. Aircraft are expensive assets and shaving five minutes off time on the ground can make the difference between loss and profit.”