swITch to be merged with BIAC

On the first of January, 2006, the Brussels based airport ICT company swITch nv/sa will merge with BIAC nv/sa. The merger between both companies will result in simplified structures.

swITch was created in 1996 as an ICT subsidiary of BATC, the company that constructed and operated the Brussels airport terminal building at that time, and the predecessor of BIAC. swITch internationally played a leading market role in dedicated airport ICT. Among other applications, the company specialised in the applications of common airport database structures, common use infrastructure for check-in and even self-check-in, flight information display platforms, the operational and administration monitoring of complex building construction works, etc…

The circumstances that led to the creation of an independent company to run the ICT activities at the airport, no longer apply today. BIAC is no longer a public law company. Such status was considered an impediment for a dynamic company internationally competing in a spearhead technology market. Furthermore, the strategy of swITch has shifted during the past years. The activities are now fully focused on the ICT needs of BIAC and the Brussels airport community. An audit that was conducted by the international ICT consultant Gartner last summer showed that Switch operated in a more efficient and less expensive manner than the market average.

The customer base of swITch will find that the continuity of services is guaranteed. At the date of this merger, BIAC succeeds to all obligations and contracts with third parties that exist on account of swITch.

All staff and activities of swITch will be integrated into BIAC. To this purpose, a new ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) department will be created within the company. This department will be managed by Arnaud Feist, Chief Financial Officer.

On the date of this merger, swITch Chief Operating Officer Jos Poelmans will leave the company. The BIAC management Committee explicitly thanks Jos Poelmans for his outstanding contribution to the development of the new ICT élan at the airport. The prominent international role that Brussels airport has played in specialist airport ICT, can be largely credited to the dynamic contribution of Jos Poelmans during the 15 year period when he was active at the airport.