Global Logistics System (GLS), a Hong Kong-based provider of cargo information management, has announced that it has been chosen by Th ai Cargo as its total solution provider for the implementation of e-booking for the carrier's cargo division.

GLS is the proprietor of online booking portal Ezycargo, which will provide the cargo arm of Thailand's flagship airline with the connectivity, network, systems, and technology it needs to make electronic cargo booking a reality. The move to an electronic booking system will significantly enhance reservation process for customers of THAI Cargo and free up its resources to enable a more strategic focus.

"The introduction of an electronic reciprocal booking system will be an important development for THAI Cargo, helping us to focus on our customers' interest. From a strategic perspective, this round-the-clock system will help us increase customer satisfaction and revenue, expand sales channels globally and also penetrate new markets," said THAI Cargo MD, Vorapravat Suebsaeng.

Etihad Crystal Cargo, a division of UAE-based Etihad Airways, has signed a contract to publish airfreight rates and post important operational announcements to freight forwarders on OAG Cargo Solutions' worldwide cargo portal. Th e airline's rapidly growing cargo business boosted its freighter fleet capacity by more than 30 per cent in 2007 and expanded its cargo terminal in Abu Dhabi to handle more than 270,000 tonnes of freight per year.

Under the agreement, Etihad will use OAG Cargo's Air Freight Rates application and its Inforwarding Announcementsservice.

UFIS Airport Solutions (UFIS-AS) has played a key role in the opening of the new Rajiv Gandhi International airport at Shamsabad in Hyderabad. Th e new airport was officially inaugurated on March 14 and began commercial operations on 23 March. In partnership with Siemens Information Systems Limited (SISL) India, UFIS-AS has successfully delivered their airport system technologies.

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), which was formed to design, finance, build, operate and maintain the green-field airport at Shamshabad, started trial operations in early September last year.

UFIS-AS' Universal Flight Information System supports GHIAL in managing the complex tasks of its ground handling operations and basically covers the full life cycle of flight operations from long term planning, through the real-time daily processing and display, and with the integration of standard products, right up to billing and statistical analysis.

"We are very happy to be moving into India", said Anders Sagadin, UFISAS' president and CEO. "In the coming months we will also be commissioning our software at two more airports ¨C Bangalore and Delhi, in cooperation with SISL. In this way we have the opportunity to contribute to the Indian economy in several geographic areas. Building new airports will be a crucial task for the territory to further enable the growth of the economy."

Mercator, the information technology division of Dubai-based Emirates Group, inaugurated a new Dedicated Development Centre (DDC) in Bangalore, India, as part of its joint agreement with Covansys, a computer sciences corporation company.

Going forward with CSC India, Mercator's new DDC will off er its travel and Dubai, transportation industry clients scalable IT services including product development, applications development and maintenance, testing services, technology consulting and project management, the company said. The new centre will off er a full range of technologies such as Java, Oracle application and data warehousing, Dot Net, ERP and other specialised niche technologies.

"The inauguration of Mercator's DDC facility is a very happy moment for all of us," said Patrick Naef, division senior vice-president IT, Emirates group and head of Mercator. We have achieved a key landmark in our IT sourcing strategy. With a goal to satisfy the diverse needs and IT challenges of Emirates Group, we are also keen to satisfy our other customers around the world.