Airline Virgin Atlantic has extended its IT outsourcing contract with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) until 2011.

Under the terms of the deal, TCS will continue to take responsibility for Virgin's IT infrastructure and applications management, leaving the airline free to focus on its core business activities.

IT systems under TCS management will include the company's relationships with other third party IT vendors, a 24-hour service desk and application support services.

Mike Cope, IT director at Virgin Atlantic, said: "Today, airlines need to effectively exploit IT more than ever to be successful in a very competitive marketplace."

TCS added that the airline's IT infrastructure and services are worldwide and therefore require a partner with a similarly global reach.

Earlier this month, news provider IT Pro reported comments by technology vendor Cisco that the growing trend towards greener working practices and sustainable technology such as unified communications is likely to lead businesses to spend more on IT.


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