LEADERSHIP
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The excitement surrounding blockchain , and the benefits its development and integration could have for myriad industries , has been palpable in recent years . Originally an anchor for cryptocurrencies , blockchain ’ s transparency and traceability – combined with the collaborative possibilities that its inherent distribution entails – have brought it to the forefront of tech research in many sectors , not least the transport industry .
SITA is a multinational IT giant focused on the air transport industry , and in its 2018 IT Air Transport IT Insights report , the company found that blockchain attracted the most research attention this year of any technology among airline and airport CIOs . The report found that 59 % of airlines and 34 % of airports plan to implement blockchain technology research programs by 2021 . Kevin O ’ Sullivan , Lead Engineer for research and development arm SITA Lab , has been leading blockchain technology research for airports and airlines over the past two and a half years . O ’ Sullivan , whose experience encompasses 25 years in the travel technology space , was keen to discuss blockchain ’ s development , what it will achieve for businesses around the world , and what the future holds for the disruptive technology .
At present , blockchain remains in its infancy . “ I
“ I see a strong parallel between what we saw in the 90s , when the internet came along , and there was also huge hype . Everyone was predicting this was going to change the world , but nobody really knew how ”
— Kevin O ’ Sullivan , Lead Engineer , SITA Labs
DECEMBER 2018