"Tucson, Ariz., Airport to Overhaul Administrative Software System"

Wednesday, August 6, 2003

Tucson, Ariz., Airport to Overhaul Administrative Software System
The Arizona Daily Star


The Tucson Airport Authority will hire a Denver firm to overhaul the
airport's 20-year-old administrative software system, at an estimated cost
of nearly $3 million.

The TAA board authorized airport officials Tuesday to negotiate a contract
with JD Edwards Worldwide Solutions, recently acquired by Pleasanton,
Calif.-based PeopleSoft Inc. 

The current accounting software system was installed in 1983 and is
outdated, Airport Authority President and CEO Bonnie Allin told the board.

The new software system will integrate all aspects of inventory, payroll,
billing and other accounting functions. The change-over won't be apparent to
passengers but should make airport operations much more efficient, airport
spokeswoman Paula Winn said.

Installation will take a year to 14 months, said Jim Liebeskind, airport
purchasing director.

Airport officials said they have been assured that neither the recent
acquisition of JD Edwards by PeopleSoft nor a pending hostile takeover bid
of PeopleSoft by Oracle Corp. will affect the planned contract, and
safeguards will be built into the contract to protect the airport's
interests. 

Also at Tuesday's airport authority meeting, the board:

-- Approved a $541,260 contract with Meridian Engineering Co. of Tucson to
expand part of the airport's car-rental "quick turnaround" area.

-- Learned that a search is on for a new restaurant operator at Ryan
Airfield. The previous operator bailed out two weeks ago -- just a few weeks
after taking over the eatery.

-- Heard that as of the end of June, airport year-to-date operating revenues
are up about 0.5 percent over budget and 12.6 percent over last year, at
$22.2 million.

Year-to-date passenger levels, freight, mail and aircraft operations are all
ahead of last year.


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