South African Airways Renews and Expands Relationship with ARINC as its Exclusive Aircraft Communications Provider

 August 20, 2013

ARINC today announced that its long-term customer, South African Airways, has signed a 5 year exclusive data link contract for ARINC's GLOBALink ACARS Services. This new agreement configures ARINC for all VHF, HF and Satellite ACARS traffic. ARINC also provides cabin connectivity on South African Airways long haul flights. South African Airways cited ARINC's superior service and technical support coupled with good commercials for the renewal.

South African Airways Photo ARINC's exclusive ACARS data link services provide airlines with faster, comprehensive and more reliable operational messaging. Carriers using ARINC ACARS data link benefit from greater efficiency and on-time performance by eliminating the errors associated with voice communications. ARINC's ACARS data link services are built on an integrated worldwide network of VHF and HF ground stations, along with Inmarsat and Iridium satellite networks, to provide seamless data communications to aircraft anywhere in the world.

South African Airways will use ARINC's HFDL (High Frequency Data Link) service for cost-effective global coverage across oceans, continents and Polar Regions while seamlessly interfacing with VHF and SATCOM communications.

"South African Airways has been an ARINC customer for a long time and we are pleased to be continuing our relationship," said Paul Pavlides, SAA Chief Information Officer (Acting). "ARINC's ability to deliver industry leading technology and cost-effective solutions is unmatched." "We are very excited to continue working with South African Airways," said Alexis Hickox, Senior Director, Aviation Solutions, at ARINC EMEA. "We believe this renewal demonstrates the value ARINC provides our customers and positions us well for future growth in Africa."