Nine Asia-Pacific airlines - Air New Zealand, Ansett Australia, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines and Singapore Airlines - are to launch an on-line travel exchange. The venture will be managed independently and will include business-to-consumer and business-to-business elements. US aeronautical communications provider ARINC plans to take a 25% stake in First Aviation Services' on-line subsidiary, AeroV, which will be used to market ARINC's global electronic data interchange network. ARINC's move into the Internet marketplace follows the launch of Aerospan.com by ARINC's main competitor, SITA. Sabre Holdings and Skyfish.com are to launch a B2B web site offering paid-for procurement tools and support to the commercial aerospace sector. It aims to expand into business aviation, airports, commercial space and defence. On-line aviation parts exchange, TradeAir.com, has received $2 million in a private placement led by interests including Minnesota-based technology specialists. Proceeds will fund research and development and server improvements. Avolo, an independent marketplace and aviation applications solutions provider, has launched a parts service based on its 'request for quote' system, launched in May, which enables airlines to locate parts by soliciting on-line bids. Skyjet.com, a web-based system for booking business aircraft, has launched MySkyjet, the first on-line auction for private business jet travel. Partsbase.com has entered into a strategic relationship with USA Information Systems, via which it will offer customers access to data on manufacturers and vendors supplying products to US Defense Department agencies, on part numbers and on military, federal, NASA and non- government industry standards. Air Partner has launched a site allowing airlines to locate spare aircraft, initially throughout Europe.
Source: Flight International