KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (June 29): In an effort to strengthen its cargo footprint across the area, AirAsia Group airlines have made cargo slots accessible on Freightchain, the world’s first digital air cargo network based on blockchain technology. According to the company, its cargo services are managed by Teleport, which has also adopted Freightchain to give AirAsia and other airlines with a platform to boost cargo capacity utilization.
AirAsia stated in a statement today that using Freightchain, it can now fully interline its flights digitally with other airlines, allowing for speedier and more on-demand freight shipping across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia’s group CEO, said the company’s listing on Freightchain furthers its ambition of becoming a strong and recognized digital cargo distributor in the area, offering consumers the best services through a broad flight network at the lowest possible cost.
“Digital interlining’s potential to maximize cargo income is a game changer for the cargo business. Through Freightchain’s interlining system, airlines and shippers may link to various airlines and destinations, increasing income prospects for airlines and providing endless connections for shippers.
“We welcome other airlines to join us in creating an incredible digital platform for the global freight network,” he added. “All of our AirAsia Group airlines are now listed on Freightchain,” he said.
According to Fernandes, scheduled commercial flight belly capacity utilization is frequently less than 100 percent, and at times as low as 50 percent.
“As a result, there is a great opportunity for airlines to use Freightchain’s demand interlining to fill the belly space and provide significant convenience, ensuring that they never have to fly empty,” he said.
AirAsia’s digital transition to become more than just an airline, he claimed, was picking more steam.
“On the cargo and logistics front, we’ve developed Teleport, which will use cargo spaces not just on our AirAsia aircraft but also on those of other airlines, creating a lot of synergy for our company.
“We’re enabling firms to move freight to locations outside of our network and region, such as Moscow and Brussels,” he explained.
According to AirAsia, the Freightchain network, which is built on the blockchain, allows airlines to manage cargo bookings independently, from finalizing consignment details to rescheduling.
The payment and settlement process is also made easier and more secure by using a wallet top-up, a credit card, or even deferred payment.
According to the airline, Freightchain has onboarded ten airlines, as well as their agents and forwarders, including all of AirAsia Group’s ASEAN-based carriers. Continue reading