ARINC’s API System in Costa Rica Proves Cost-Effective for Carriers

Annapolis, Maryland—A custom-built Advance Passenger Information (API) system developed by ARINC Incorporated for the Costa Rica Department of Immigration has proven highly cost-effective in its first year of service. More than half the airlines serving Costa Rica have switched from a competitor to the ARINC system since it was installed.

International carriers TACA, COPA, Continental, Spirit, American, Avianca, and others are now using ARINC as their API service provider, accounting for about 60% of the country’s API data message traffic. ARINC expects this volume of traffic to increase even further in the last two quarters of 2010, as more airlines take advantage of ARINC’s attractive pricing structure and service reliability.

ARINC’s solution was the second API system introduced in Costa Rica. It was launched in June 2009 after airlines requested a second provider to bring competition and a higher level of service. Costa Rica’s government chose ARINC as the alternate provider after determining that both the airlines and the country would benefit from competitive pricing and service redundancy.

“Our API system has demonstrated extreme robustness in its first year of operation, with availability approaching 100%,” stated Yun Chong, ARINC Vice President, Aviation Network Solutions. “The Costa Rica government is very satisfied with this level of performance, and the airlines are finding our price structure highly attractive as well.”

ARINC’s Aviation Network Solutions Division installed the front end of the API system with full cooperation of the Costa Rica Immigration Agency IT staff, who built the country’s back-end system. ARINC provides the API network infrastructure, messaging service, protocol and message format translations, and 24×7 full-service support.

“We appreciate the opportunity to provide Costa Rica with this unique application, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship,” continued Chong. “ARINC’s goal is to exceed the expectations of the customers and carriers we serve. We are determined to earn their trust and loyalty, and to become the premier provider of global Electronic Borders solutions.”

API systems have become mandatory in a growing number of countries as border security becomes a major concern. Airlines are required to forward a detailed list of all passengers and crew on each flight, well in advance of arrival or departure. This allows more time for proper screening by immigration authorities. API requirements are also being extended to cover maritime travel and surface transportation.

ARINC’s API system solutions, a part of the ARINC Electronic Borders^TM portfolio, were developed to meet today’s challenges in border security. The complete portfolio utilizes ARINC’s expertise in aviation, government, surface and maritime transportation, IT, and systems integration to deliver the most efficient, cost-effective solutions possible.

ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified.

Release: 10-078

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