AGS Airports outsources IT after Heathrow split

AGS Airports has outsourced IT services to Getronics following the completion of a project to split from Heathrow Holdings.

Spanish conglomerate Ferrovial and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) was established in 2014 to acquire Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports (AGS Airports).

Following its sell-off in December 2014, AGS had 12 months to set up its own IT provision. To ensure its small IT department could continue to support IT after the split from the larger group, it has appointed Getronics to supply IT support through a five-year contract.

“We only have eight IT staff, so we have adopted an outsourcing model,” said Chris Tames, group head of IT at AGS Airports.

With more than 13 million customers passing through the airports each year, AGS had to complete the split with minimal disruption to the IT infrastructure that supports operations. During the separation, AGS consulted Affini, which has experience in separating airports, said Tames.

Getronics took on the IT support services associated with this separation, including telephony and support desk operations, and provision of on-site engineers at the three airports.

In the first phase of the project, AGS moved onto Getronics’ support model for managed IT support services and maintenance. The second phase will see AGS move its networking systems to Getronics, and will be complete early this year. 

“Airport IT systems rely on multiple complex applications and services running seamlessly,” said Tames.

“Rather than a traditional supplier, the Getronics team acted as an extension of our business. They were flexible and easy to work with, and have been instrumental in helping us meet business deadlines quickly to improve our airports’ operations and, consequently, the service we deliver to customers and staff.”