Hitit and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have expanded their partnership—originally established in 2018 and renewed in 2023—by adding the Crane Crew (Crew Management) solution. As of October 1, PIA, Pakistan’s flag carrier, has started using Hitit’s Crane Crew software, marking a new step forward in crew planning.
October 1, 2025 – Istanbul, Islamabad – Hitit, the world’s third-largest and Europe and Africa’s second-largest airline IT solutions provider, has taken its cooperation with PIA to a new level. Beginning October 1, PIA officially launched the use of Hitit’s Crane Crew (Crew Management) System.
Throughout the partnership, PIA has benefitted from most of the Crane solution family, achieving both cost advantages and operational flexibility with tailored products. This satisfaction led the airline to renew its contract in 2023. Now, after 20 years of using its previous crew planning system, PIA has switched to Hitit’s Crane Crew solution.
Crane Crew to Manage Around 2,000 Flight Personnel
Founded in 1955, PIA operates an extensive network of flights—serving 32 destinations across 13 countries with 74 routes. This large-scale operation, involving about 2,000 flight crew members, will now be managed through Hitit’s Crane Crew system. Widely adopted in the aviation industry and enhanced over time with mobile and optimization modules, Crane Crew supports planning and operational processes for both pilots and cabin crews end-to-end with robust infrastructure and advanced technology.
The system schedules airline rosters and equipment assignments in compliance with both internal regulations and international standards. It ensures distribution, implementation, and monitoring of these plans. With its intelligent algorithms, Crane Crew creates balanced, cost-effective crew schedules by taking into account expenses, regulations, company rules, and crew preferences. Additionally, it supports decision-making through operational data and scenario-based options.
A Mobile Revolution in Crew Management: Crew in Touch
Enhanced with functional features such as irregular operations management (IROPS), training modules, and workforce planning, Crane Crew stands out with its Crew in Touch mobile application. This app establishes strong communication between flight crews and planning/operations departments. Real-time data sharing ensures smooth processes in crew management while actively supporting crews in their workflows.
At the same time, it collects crew preferences, requests, and feedback, boosting satisfaction and engagement. Thus, Crane Crew not only enhances operational efficiency but also contributes to higher crew motivation.
Hitit’s crew management and operational planning solutions go beyond passenger services, playing a vital role in the digital transformation of flight crews—one of the most critical components of airline operations.
