Gulf Air has won the Best Innovation Award at International Data Corporation (IDC)'s second annual Middle East IT Excellence Awards in Dubai.

In its fifth 'big data' win in less than one year, Gulf Air was recognised for its implementation of 'Big data cloud with Arabic sentiment analysis' that leverages the technology to monitor and analyse Gulf Air's online Arabic dialogue, said a report in the GDN.

Created using open source big data solutions, the highlight of the pioneering system is its unique ability to handle the complexity of the Arabic language by factoring colloquial forms, including regional dialects and informal phrases, into the analysis.

"This award reinforces our achievements in information technology development - vital in the aviation industry today," said Gulf Air director of information technology Dr Jassim Haji, who received the award.

"With the help of 'big data' we are continuing to improve our services in order to meet the evolving needs of our passengers by utilising newer and smarter technologies to facilitate their travel experiences," he added.-TradeArabia News Service