Nihon TCS and JAL Digital Form Strategic Partnership to Deepen Collaboration

May 11, 2026 | Nihon Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Satish Thiagarajan; hereinafter, Nihon TCS) has signed a comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) with JAL Digital Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Keisuke Suzuki; hereinafter, JALDX) to further accelerate the JAL Group's digital transformation (DX) initiatives.

Background and Objectives Since forming a strategic partnership in 2019, JALDX and Nihon TCS have deepened their collaboration on various critical projects, including the renewal of the Passenger Service System (PSS) (SAKURA Project) and support for ZIPAIR system integration. By transitioning from a project-by-project order-based contract to a comprehensive and long-term cooperative relationship (SPA), both companies aim to maximize overall volume benefits, streamline ordering procedures, and significantly reduce lead times. This agreement seeks to establish a stable operational structure, introduce global expertise, and continuously improve productivity. The objective is to contribute to the creation of new value in JAL Group's passenger services and enhance its ability to respond swiftly to changing aviation demand.

Key Initiatives in This Partnership 1. **Securing a Preferential and Stable Digital Response System** A preferential and stable response system (resources for domain leaders) will be secured in the areas of development, PM/PMO, and maintenance. This will enable optimal personnel assignment, leading to significant reductions in delivery periods and further improvements in quality. 2. **Productivity Improvement Leveraging AI and Global Scale Benefits** Nihon TCS will maximize its strength in "global scale benefits based on AI utilization" to optimize processes in development, testing, and maintenance. Through the collaboration of both companies, the goal is to improve productivity in the development and maintenance domains. 3. **Introduction of Global Expertise through Dispatch of Highly Skilled IT Professionals** To directly transfer Nihon TCS's extensive experience and knowledge in global standard solutions such as Amadeus and its track record with overseas airlines to JALDX, highly skilled consultants, project managers (PMs), and architects will be dispatched from Nihon TCS to JALDX. 4. **Support for Developing Next-Generation DX Talent** Practical training programs, including stays in India, will be implemented to enhance the development skills and foster a global mindset among JALDX employees (primarily those in development stages). This program will create opportunities for mutual understanding at the operational level and international experience.

Future Outlook Through this strategic partnership, JALDX and Nihon TCS will build a strong collaborative framework, contributing to the creation of new value in JAL Group's passenger services and enhancing its ability to respond swiftly to changing aviation demand.

Keisuke Suzuki, Representative Director and President of JAL Digital, stated: "To respond more swiftly to constantly changing customer needs and societal demands, agility and speed in IT system development are indispensable. Through this strategic partnership, with the strong project support from Nihon TCS, we will further shorten development lead times and enhance our ability to adapt to change. By integrating JAL Group's accumulated knowledge in the aviation business with Nihon TCS's world-class technological capabilities cultivated globally, we will accelerate the creation of new value and continue to provide service experiences that exceed customer expectations."

Satish Thiagarajan, Representative Director and President of Nihon TCS, stated: "We find it highly significant to evolve our long-standing collaborative relationship with JAL Digital into a comprehensive and strategic partnership. The aviation industry is currently at a major turning point, facing changes in the global competitive environment and accelerating transformation driven by digital technology. In this context, we are proud to work together with JAL Digital, which is at the core of supporting the DX of a leading Japanese airline group, on future-oriented transformation. In this partnership, TCS will bring together its global initiatives in AI utilization, standardized delivery models, and its track record and expertise with airlines worldwide to deliver value that balances speed and quality. Additionally, as a crucial investment for both companies, we will promote the exchange and development of highly specialized talent. Through the dispatch of our personnel and the participation of JAL Digital employees in our India-based projects, we will foster next-generation talent."