Two winners emerged in the Corporate Strategy category, with the judges acknowledging that the two could point to similar achievements in the year.
SITA won for the launch of the aerospan.com aerospace e-marketplace, while Honeywell and United Technologies were recognised for the launch of MyAircraft and its merger with AirNewco to form Cordiem.Aerospan.com saw off stiff competition to establish itself as a leading business-to-business portal, one that promises to deliver real benefits to the aerospace industry. Aerospan.com was founded in February as a joint venture by air transport telecommunications group SITA and aviation supply-chain management specialist AAR. The partnership was set up to develop a comprehensive and all-inclusive e-marketplace for the $80-100 billion air transport industry, allowing 15,000 airlines and aerospace companies and suppliers to source, acquire and sell products and services online. Honeywell and United Technologies were among the first aerospace manufacturers to identify the potential of the e-marketplace. Their research culminated in the creation, with technology partner i2, of MyAircraft to provide Internet-based productivity solutions for buyers and sellers in the air transport, military and business aviation sectors. During 2000 MyAircraft established itself as the first consortium-backed aviation e-marketplace to be announced; the first business-to-business e-marketplace in any industry to be reviewed and approved by the European Commission; the first aerospace consortium-backed marketplace to be legally incorporated; and one of the first to be expanded to include ownership by buyers and sellers. The latter was achieved through MyAircraft¹s merger with airline-led air transport e-marketplace AirNewco, which was announced in October and culminated in the formation of the combined venture, branded Cordiem, this February. EADS was named as a finalist for the biggest merger in European aviation history - of Aerospatiale Matra, Casa and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace.
Source: Flight Daily News
