CWHK: With today's increasing emphasis on showing value and return from technology investments, is it harder for you to push through projects such as essential upgrades and maintenance?

Edward Nicol: Not at all, this is not a problem for us. Airline senior management recognize that IT is very important for our business. The industry have been path finding-users of IT since the 50s and 60s, and many airlines have a senior IT member on the management board'I'm a director of the Cathay management board.

So there's an understanding of the importance of IT, but also there's an understanding of the costs [associated with IT]. So we don't have to explain the need to invest in infrastructure, but naturally we need to justify it.

Because I don't come from the IT industry, I maintain a healthy cynicism about the latest 'hot trend.' My experience with IT over the years indicates that as soon as a 'hot button' technology fades, another one pops up. One of my maxims for customer-facing IT: 'Simplification has been oversimplified.'

CWHK: What are your most recent projects?