Aerospace inventory management company AAR has sold the majority of its 50% stake in the Aerospan.com e-business exchange to joint venture partner SITA. The move is an attempt by Aerospan to establish its credentials as an independent exchange as manufacturer and supplier-led b2b exchanges struggle to secure users.
Illinois-based AAR and airline-owned telecoms provider SITA signed a joint venture deal to form Aerospan in February, with the exchange launching now-completed beta testing with an unidentified airline in July.
AAR has taken back its investment in Aerospan, together with "a modest return", but will retain a single-figured stake and remain a customer, says AAR.
SITA director general John Watson concedes that any e-marketplace "clearly depends on both neutrality and industry ownership". To date, manufacturer- and supplier-owned ventures have been slow to attract airline customers in any numbers. So-called independent exchanges appear to be more attractive, while airlines themselves have clubbed together to form exchanges to serve their e-commerce needs. SITA says it has six airlines and 11 suppliers signed up to use Aerospan.
Source: Flight International
