OAG announces Martinair cargo as the launch customer for its new air freight rates (AFRA) application.

Major improvements for Internal Rates Management and Customer Communications

(Kuala Lumpur, 4 November 2008) OAG Cargo Solutions (www.oagcargo.com) announced today that Martinair Cargo is to be the launch customer for its upgraded Airfreight Rates (AFRA) application, a web-based solution which facilitates the timely and transparent communication of real-time rates information between carriers and freight forwarders in a secure online environment. This was announced at the 24th International Air Cargo Forum in Kuala Lumpur, where OAG is exhibiting.

OAG Cargo is developing a fully customised version of its next generation AFRA product which meets the specific operational and marketing needs of Martinair Cargo. It will become the carrier’s new global internal rates management system, designed to increase operational efficiencies and drive improvements in its customer communications. The airline will have the flexibility to upload its latest tariffs, make these instantly accessible to its customers and provide quotations electronically, giving it complete control in managing the entire rates management process and eliminating the need for paper-based communications with freight forwarders worldwide.

Bernard van der Vloed, VP Cargo Sales Europe, Martinair Cargo said, “We were impressed by the track record of OAG Cargo in delivering products and services to the air freight industry. We chose to go with our own version of AFRA because OAG was able to incorporate all the modules we requested to improve our procedures and reduce our costs. We are very pleased with our relationship with OAG and are excited at the prospect of offering our customers an even better service for securing the best rates for their consignments.”

Mike Navin, Managing Director OAG Cargo, said, “We are delighted that Martinair Cargo has chosen AFRA as its in-house rates management system. We are integrating a number of enhancements to the core application which will benefit Martinair and its freight forwarder customers. “

“The rapid growth of AFRA over recent years demonstrates the need for robust and transparent communication of real-time air freight tariffs,” added Navin. “We are close to finalising the next generation of the product which will provide enhanced functionality for airlines and freight forwarders alike. A key element is the introduction of an e-Signature capability which will allow airlines to document acceptance of contract and spot rates, and reduce the risk of pricing errors, virtually eliminating rate disputes and greatly reducing manpower costs.”

The AFRA application is also available for freight forwarders to ‘white label’ as their own in-house system to streamline and optimise their buying decisions.

AFRA is a business to business tool on the OAG Cargo portal, www.oagcargo.com. It is a single online source for secure rate information between airlines and freight forwarders, and for the communication of sales quotations between forwarders and shippers. Airlines publish their rates on the system, and forwarders access the information under license. Currently it contains more than eight million tariffs including general, contract, ad hoc and net rates, and is used by freight forwarders worldwide to compare prices quickly and easily to find the right rate for a consignment.

The Air Freight Rates application is part of the total cargo portal solution offered by OAG Cargo. Its Inforwarding Announcements service, that enables airlines to publish time sensitive operational announcements to freight forwarders, is now live in 26 markets in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia with further countries due to be added. There are more than 25,000 registered users of the Announcements service. The portal also provides route building, schedules, truck service points and rates and analysis tools as well as regulations governing the carriage by air of dangerous goods shipments.

OAG Cargo is exhibiting at ACF 2008, booth number 1308, exhibition halls 1 & 2.

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About OAG Cargo Solutions (www.oagcargo.com)

OAG Cargo Solutions provides an expanding portfolio of innovative products and services to the global air cargo community. Its air freight community portal oagcargo.com includes tools for routing and shipment planning, Dangerous Goods regulations, a real-time air freight rates database, air and road schedule data, tracking and analysis solutions and multi-media cargo schedule products. Its renowned Inforwarding service has more than 26,000 registered freight forwarding and airline users in 26 markets worldwide.

OAG Cargo Solutions is part of OAG (Official Airline Guide, www.oagcorporate.com), a global flight information and data solutions company for the passenger aviation, air cargo logistics and business travel markets. The OAG business is underpinned by its data management expertise. It is best known for its airline schedules database which feeds the world’s global distribution systems and travel portals and drives the internal systems of many airlines, air traffic control systems, aircraft manufacturers, airport planners and government agencies.

OAG is part of Commonwealth Business Media (www.cbizmedia.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of United Business Media Limited (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com).

About Commonwealth Business Media (www.cbizmedia.com)
Commonwealth Business Media Inc., a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited, is the leading information provider to the global trade, transportation and travel market with comprehensive proprietary data, news and analytical content. Its leading brands include The Journal of Commerce, PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions, OAG (Official Airline Guide), Air Cargo World, Traffic World, and Aviation Industry Group, plus a number of directory databases covering the international trade, railroad and trucking markets. The company also produces more than 30 conferences serving the international trade, aviation and maritime markets.

About United Business Media Limited (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com)

United Business Media Limited (UBM) is a global media and marketing services company that informs markets and brings the world’s buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print, and with the information they need to do business successfully. UBM serves professional and commercial communities, from IT professionals to doctors, from journalists to jewelry dealers, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. UBM employs more than 6,500 people in more than 30 countries. UBM's businesses include CMPMedica, Commonwealth Business Media, Everything Channel, PR Newswire, RISI, TechInsights, TechWeb and Think Services. UBM is listed on the London Stock Exchange (UBM.L) and has a market capitalization of $2.5 billion.