OAG, the leading provider of digital flight information, has announced plans to open an office in Kaunas, Lithuania. The new development centre will expand OAG’s technology capabilities and propel the company into its next phase of growth. The team in Kaunas will focus on new solution development and continuous improvement to OAG’s existing product lines, including schedule processing, flight status information, analytics platforms and predictive applications.
“We’ve seen the demand for digital flight information grow tremendously over the past several years and are actively seeking new ways to accelerate the business and enhance our product offerings for our customers,” said Mike Benjamin, chief technology officer of OAG. “To scale quickly, we need to act globally and invest in regions that offer the right talent, resources and skills. We are very excited to join some of the world’s leading organizations in calling Kaunas home.”
The location of this investment project was largely influenced by the high level of technical and English language skills offered by Kaunas’ local talent pool. The region is filled with highly skilled Java and .NET developers and other IT specialists, a key consideration for OAG. The company is planning to hire between 25-30 experienced software developers, analysts, and QA professionals and several dozen architects and test engineers over the next couple years.
OAG also selected Kaunas for the strong technical education provided by The Kaunas University of Technology, an institution known for producing high-calibre graduates. The availability of direct flights to and from OAG’s Luton, UK headquarters and the region’s positive environment for technology companies also factored into the decision. “These advantages will provide the agility we need for our growth and allow us to tap into new talent quickly and effectively,” added Benjamin.
Kaunas will join OAG’s list of global offices including Boston, Chicago, Singapore, Tokyo and Beijing.
“We are very excited OAG recognizes the value Kaunas offers as a hub for strong and highly-trained IT specialists and are looking forward to shared success,” states Mantas Katinas, managing director of foreign direct investment and business development agency Invest Lithuania. “A seal of approval from such a reputable company and leader in the global air travel ecosystem will surely put Kaunas on the radar of other major aviation organizations and contribute to our city’s growth.”
“In the past several years, Lithuania has been vastly improving its competency level. If just a couple of years ago, only companies seeking to transfer their relatively simple IT operations were choosing Lithuania, now we attract major players that require high-level specialists. OAG’s decision to set up in Kaunas signifies another step forward, as the company offers an especially specialized product used by high-profile clients, meaning that they need the best professionals they can find. Once again, Kaunas proves itself to be a location able to offer specialists of this caliber,” Virginijus Sinkevičius, Lithuania’s Economy Minister, believes.
