AISATS launches e-freight initiative at Bengaluru intl airport

It is a web-based electronic platform that enables seamless electronic data interchange between various players in the air cargo value chain

Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS) has introduced an e-freight initiative at its Bengaluru Airfreight Terminal facility at the Kempegowda International Airport, the company said today.

AISATS has incorporated its Airport Community System (ACS), a web-based electronic platform that enables seamless electronic data interchange (EDI) between various stakeholders in the air cargo value chain.

With this, AISATS BLR takes a big step towards IATA's e-freight initiative, building a paper-free air cargo supply chain and replacing it with cheaper, more accurate and more reliable electronic messaging, the company said in a release.

With this system, AISATS is well-equipped to do away with the traditional paper-based shipping data consolidation, and move towards electronic data management, the release added.

The announcement comes a week after Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) announced that the Kempegowda International Airport has been rated as an e-freight compliant airport by IATA for its cargo operations.

AISATS said with this online portal, freight forwarders and cargo handling agents will have complete shipment visibility and be able to send data demanded by multiple carriers, customs, airport operators electronically through a single portal without doing duplicating data entry efforts on separate platforms.

The ACS will also help in creating airline booking requests and sending the same electronically to the airlines, including creating and printing of Master Air Waybill, House Air Waybills and Bar Code labels.

It also said that by capturing the data on shipment electronically, this e-freight initiative will enhance stakeholders' experience, optimise cargo operations, and rationalise unit costs with process efficiencies.