Unisys and Air France Flying High as they Celebrate 40-Year Collaboration

Four decades of successful information management signifies strong relationship

BLUE BELL, Pa., November 9, 2006 – Unisys Corporation (NYSE:UIS) today announced that it is celebrating a 40-year relationship with Air France Group. Over the past four decades, Unisys has consistently met the airline’s unique operating requirements to successfully build a highly reliable and rugged information system.

The system is built around three major functional units – passenger reservation management and check-in operations and freight management – with each unit consisting of IT applications that run around the clock.

Since 1966, when Unisys signed its initial contract with Air France to computerise the airline’s reservation system, the two companies have worked side-by-side, enjoying a mutually beneficial relationship. In that time, Unisys has consistently met the expectation and challenges set out by the airline and adapted to its ever-changing business needs. Further to this, Air France has called upon Unisys expanded skills and service offerings in order to face the rapidly changing technological requirements in a highly competitive market.

ClearPath at the heart of Air France system
With its initial reservation system running on Unisys first-ever server (Univac at that time), Air France decided to enlist Unisys technical expertise in order to help customise the operating system supplied with the hardware in order to maximise its performance. In 1968, Unisys launched the first version of its proprietary Transaction Oriented Package (TOP), which has been periodically updated in order to take advantage of new developments in the ClearPath mainframe product range. As a result of the close relationship between the two companies, Air France’s technical team responsible for TOP’s maintenance visits Unisys ClearPath R&D Centre in Minnesota each year. Here they get to meet with Unisys designers to get a greater understanding of the future technological innovations that could help shape the way in which Air France carries out its business.

Unisys is also involved with the management of Air France’s infrastructure and network within the Paris Orly airport area, as well as the airline’s additional Paris offices.

“Over the years, Unisys has successfully met the various challenges we have put its way, not only providing us with the technology but also the expertise to meet our operating requirements,” said Edouard Odier, Chief Information Officer, Air France. “The close relationship between our two companies continues to prevail.”

40 years of successful collaboration
Like all leading airlines, Air France’s competitiveness heavily relies on the efficiency and adequacy of its information systems. During 40 years of collaboration, Unisys has successfully built and maintained a highly reliable information system for Air France, consistently meeting the unique operating requirements of the major airline. Air France has been able to leverage Unisys command of leading-edge technologies, flexible solutions and staff, as well as high quality of service and a focus on streamlining costs. Based on knowledge and capabilities gained through its work with Air France, Unisys has also been able to expand its expertise in the field of air transport to provide a wide range of solutions to the industry as a whole.

“We have a very special relationship with Unisys. We have always been able to rely on them, especially at our most critical times,” added Odier. “We speak the same language – our mutual experts are able to understand each other and easily come to agreements, therefore finding solutions that are best suited to our needs.”

Working towards the future
Today, the collaboration between Unisys and Air France relies on solid relationships between the companies’ respective members of staff, mutual trust and the fulfilment of commitments.

“After 40 years of success, we hope to continue this privileged relationship with Air France,” said Laurent Sibille, president, Unisys France. “Unisys has extremely strong expertise in this field and is a match to any new challenges Air France wishes to offer us.”

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Contacts

Sophie Decaudin, Trimedia, +33 155 307099
sophie.decaudin@trimedia.fr

Sandrine Leroux-Graves, Unisys Europe, +44 (0) 1895 865462
sandrine.leroux-graves@gb.unisys.com

Gail Ferrari Marold, Unisys U.S., +919-342-5376
gail.ferrari@unisys.com