Global reservation and departure control systems are the 'heart and lungs' of any airline.

When Cathay Pacific Airways planned to outsource its reservation, departure control and inventory systems, Minter Ellison was appointed to act as its legal advisers on the largest IT project it has undertaken in recent times.

Involved from the inception of the project through until contract signage, we reviewed and advised Cathay Pacific on the issues arising from each outsourcing vendor response. Our lawyers also assisted the airline in negotiations with the vendors to ensure that the potential outsourcing arrangements met its desired commercial and practical objectives.

In October 2007, Cathay's reservation, departure control and inventory systems contract was awarded to Amadeus, and its revenue integrity systems were awarded to Calidris.