Mark Hannant
The first card has been played in the battle for the emerging e-marketplace by aviationX, with the announcement of its first customer airline at the show.
Express Airlines, a wholly owned Northwest Airlink carrier and Chautauqua Airlines, a US Airways and TWA affiliate, have signed beta test agreements with aviationX which will see the airlines test prototypes of the e-commerce system.
Both companies will use the aviationX.com and certain technical resources when it is launched in the second quarter of this year. Between them they operate or have on order more than 175 aircraft.
Unveiled
And visitors to Asian Aerospace 2000 had a first glimpse at the site and its functions when it was unveiled yesterday. Presiding over the unveiling, aviationX chairman and chief executive Henrik Schróder says: "The prototype reflects extensive input from the people who will actually use it, purchasing managers, inventory managers, engineers and product support personnel.
"Regional airlines are growing at twice the rate of the major airlines, and they bear heavier per-seat maintenance costs than major airlines. Express and Chautauqua are ideal first carriers to put aviationX.com to the test."
aviationX's concept is to target buyers such as airlines, cargo operators, maintenance- and overhaul- facilities who can use the site to lower purchasing costs and streamline their information requirements. Subscribers will be able to pick what level of workflow process management tools it wishes to use.
Source: Flight Daily News
