Cathay selects CHAMP for ULD Management

09 September 2008

LUXEMBOURG – Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways today announced the selection of CHAMP Cargosystems’ ULD Manager system to manage its inventory of Unit Load Devices (ULDs) distributed across some 118 destinations in 37 countries.

Within the next three months, Cathay Pacific, the 7th largest cargo carrier worldwide, its sister airline Dragonair and the joint venture all-cargo carrier, Air Hong Kong, will be using the new-generation web-based CHAMP ULD Manager.

Y.H. Huen, Cargo Service Manager – ULD, Cathay Pacific Airways, said: “After considering multiple options, we have decided to choose CHAMP’s ULD Manager to replace our in-house legacy system to further enhance operating and cost efficiency.

“CHAMP’s advanced web-based solution allows us to efficiently track our ULD equipment and to ensure sufficient stock is available in the right quantity and the right condition in the right place at the right time, giving us true network-wide control.”

John Johnston, CEO CHAMP Cargosystems, said: “ULDs represent valuable assets; there are an estimated one million ULDs in use around the world with a collective value of over $1 billion. Airlines spend in excess of $250 million each year maintaining, repairing and replacing the devices. Major airlines, like Cathay, that move from legacy systems to the web-based CHAMP ULD Manager can achieve considerable savings on their overall ULD management costs. A welcome improvement for any airline at this time of squeezed margins.”

CHAMP ULD Manager will be implemented at Cathay within three months using special data extraction tools to ensure a seamless migration from the current system, and is expected to deliver immediate savings to the airline.

Cathay joins a number of other airlines already using the system including Czech Airlines, Finnair, Gulf Air, Icelandair and TAP Portugal. A further 20 airlines are scheduled to migrate to the web-based system by mid-2009.