SriLankan ties up with Mercator’s SkyChain

SriLankan Airlines has signed up for SkyChain, the end to end cargo reservation and business management solution offered by Mercator, the Dubai-based business technology provider, part of the Emirates Group. SriLankan Airlines is the flag carrier of Sri Lanka and currently flies to over 30 international destinations. Mercator plans to complete implementation by the second quarter of 2009. The solution will be hosted out of Mercator’s data centres in Dubai and used by authorised SriLankan cargo users out of Colombo and other outstation cargo offices globally.

According to Patrick Naef, head of Mercator, “the timing of this partnership is significant, coming as it does when skyrocketing fuel prices are having a tremendous economic impact on the airline industry. This partnership clearly demonstrates that major players have confidence in our IT solutions to reduce costs and increase revenue”.

Naef added that “SkyChain has been built for the air cargo business of today and the changing dynamics of the foreseeable future. We are confident SkyChain will have a significant and positive impact on our customers’ financial bottom line and make waves in the air cargo industry.”

The solution, wholly developed by Mercator in Dubai, has been designed to manage every aspect of an airline’s cargo business. Using the latest Java technology, it transforms information into an asset with data fully utilised to maximise performance, raise service quality and optimise resources. .

According to Johann Wijesinghe, Head of Worldwide Cargo, SriLankan Airlines, “SriLankan SkyChain will provide an integrated network of information and support services enabling our customers, no matter where they are, to always have a world of cargo services literally at their fingertips.” Other customers for Mercator’s SkyChain include Swiss World Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo and Midex.