IBM signs $300 million IT deal with Emirates Airline

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - IBM on Tuesday said it signed a $300 million, ten-year technology services agreement with Dubai’s Emirates Airline. IBM will provide information technology services, allowing the airline to improve efficiency on its passenger support systems and functions, a statement from IBM said. Under the managed services agreement, this will include assistance in encrypting the airline's data in near real-time and systems which allow different software components to communicate more effectively, the statement said. In October 2015, IBM signed a $700 million deal with Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways for a range of IT services and infrastructure. Emirates, the world’s fourth-largest carrier of international passengers reported a profit of $1.93 billion for the financial year to March 31, a jump of 56 percent over the year. (Reporting by Stanley Carvalho; Editing by Louise Heavens)