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Maximising the benefit


Air freight volumes at the major UAE-based carriers and their hub airports remain strong as the airlines continue to add new routes. Elsewhere in the region, the adoption of IT systems is on the increase and the new DWC Al Maktoum International airport in Dubai has plenty of space for more freighter traffic


M


ercator, the Dubai-based provider of business technologies to the aviation industry, has introduced its SkyChain cargo solution to Latin America’s second-largest


airline company, AviancaTaca Holding. The group’s airlines – TACA, Aerogal,


Tampa Cargo and the internaional cargo operations of Avianca – will now be able to seamlessly share cargo 100 destinations a single system, a Mercator spokesman said. AviancaTaca Holding operates a modern


fleet of 140 short, medium and long-haul air- craft directly serving over 100 destinations in America and Europe. The group includes cargo, mail and courier services in its portfolio of air freight offerings. By using SkyChain, the group will be able to


manage its cargo with an integrated end-to-end system, with an expected increse in productivi- ty levels through more effective management of cargo sales, exporting, importing and transfer activities. In addition, Mercator says SkyChain will help otimise cargo operations and enhance the levels of service currently offered to Avianca- Taca customers. “Having worked with Mer-


cator for many years we know we have a partner who under- stands our needs and delivers good service,” said Estuardo Ortiz, chief operating officer for AviancaTaca. He went on: “It is impotant


for AviancaTaca to know that SkyChain will be contiuously developed to meet the emerg-


Etihad to add Basra A320 connection


Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Air- ways, the UAE flag-carrier, will launch four times a week A320 services to the commercial and industrial city of Basra in southern Iraq on 15 April. With oil and gas represent-


ing the backbone of the local economy, airline CEO James Hogan noted: “Iraq’s surging economy represents a good opportunity to add even greater depth to our sched- ule... Basra is an important industrial and transport hub but currently has only limited access to air services.” Etihad Airways began fly-


Baghdad in late April 2010, with Erbil added to the net- work five weeks later. The fast-growing airline


Hogan notes “important industrial transport hub”


ing to Iraq when it launched a daily service between Abu Dhabi International airport and


will further extend its Middle Eastern network with an increase in the frequency of its services to Kuwait and Dammam on 1 April. n Etihad, which owns 40 per- cent of Air Seychelles and has a five-year management con- tract, says the Indian Ocean airline will return to profit in 24 months. On 12 March, Air Sey- chelles inaugurated direct B767-300ER services from its Mahé hub to Abu Dhabi, com-


plementing the air links currently operated by Etihad on the route.


Mohebi invests in regional base at Dubai Logistics City


Middle Eastern distributor Mohebi Logistics is to invest up to 350 million dirhams (US$95.3 million) in a modern new facility in the Dubai Logistics City development at Dubai World Central (DWC) Al Maktoum International airport. The new centre will contain the company


headquarters as well as temperature-controlled warehousing facilities. Zainal Mohebi Group, the parent company


of Mohebi Logistics, said it will also merge its regional fast-moving consumer goods operations into a single location at DWC to streamline operations.


ing IT needs of the air cargo industry.” Orti- zadded: “Having our group on a single cargo system will sped up processes and optimise business performance across each of our subsidiaries.” “Mercator aims for product innovation;


delivering airlines the IT business systems that increase efficiencies and productvity, and thus support long-term growth,” remarked Duncan Alexander, vice president, Mercator. In a separate deal, Mercator signed a new


agreement in March with low-cost carrier fly- dubai, which will see SkyChain adopted to fully automate its cargo operations.


Commenting on the agreement, flydubai


CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “flydubai Cargo has been in demand since the day we launched and with such a busy operation, we needed a technology partner that could keep up with demand.” Along using SkyChain, the group will be


able to manage its cargo with an end-to-end system, with an expected increasetransactions. Both technologies will benfit flydubai’s opera- tions, by enabling the airline to optimise costs, increase operational efficiencies and maximise revenues and profitability, the Mercator spokesman concluded.





26 March 2012


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