The Russian government is currently evaluating the privatization of the Siren Group, the developer behind the widely used Leonardo airline ticket reservation system. According to industry sources, the transition of these IT assets to private ownership is slated for early 2027. This move follows the initial transfer of the company to state ownership in February 2026, marking a potential shift in the management of critical aviation infrastructure.
Strategic Interest from Aviation and Banking Sectors
Major industry players including Rostec, Aeroflot, and the ORS company have expressed preliminary interest in acquiring the IT assets. The current discussions suggest a structured buyout where the state would retain a minority stake of 25%, while the remaining 75% would be offered through a competitive auction process. This strategy aims to maintain state oversight while leveraging private sector efficiency for technological development.
Beyond the reservation system itself, the group's perimeter includes the Transport Clearing House (TCH), which has become a point of interest for leading financial institutions. The privatization plan specifically considers the buyout of the core company without including unrelated assets.
- Proposals involve selling a 75% stake via public auction.
- Rostec and Aeroflot are among the primary entities monitoring the acquisition.
- Major banks are eyeing the Transport Clearing House for its financial processing capabilities.
- The state plans to maintain a 25% "blocking stake" to ensure strategic control.
Operational Stability and Future Outlook
Despite the ongoing discussions regarding ownership changes, the technical operation of the booking infrastructure remains unaffected. The RT-Transcom enterprise continues to serve as the provider for the Leonardo system, ensuring that domestic and international flight bookings for Russian carriers proceed without interruption.
The state decides on the transfer of assets to private ownership. The RT-Transcom enterprise continues to perform the functions of the Leonardo system provider, and the reservation system is operating as usual.
This development is significant for the travel industry as the Leonardo system serves as the backbone for passenger services and ticket distribution for numerous airlines operating within the region. The privatization process is expected to bring new investment into the domestic travel tech sector, potentially leading to software updates and enhanced functionality for travelers and agents alike by the time the deal concludes in 2027.