newstodate.aero
Jan 29, 2007 (newstodate): Lufthansa Cargo is not overly satisfied with the progress of e-bookings.
-We honestly do not see an upward trend in the volume of forwarders' e-bookings, says Kay Wichmann, Lufthansa Cargo director Nordic and Baltic countries.
-It seems that every time we have conducted a major campaign, e-booking figures are up. But after a while the volume slips back to earlier levels. Meaning that the volume is still far too low.
-There are probably several reasons behind this. One is that airfreight has remained a people-to-people business, despite all efforts. Another may be that we have simply not succeeded in developing an e-boooking platform that meets our customers' demands and expectations.
-Yet another factor is that forwarders will still have to address five or 10 different e-booking platforms during the day to book on different airlines. And this understandably does not make e-bookings attractive.
-We must of course find a solution to this situation. One is to cluster together with other airlines around one efficient e-booking platform, like GF-X. There may be other alternatives, but this is at least one viable way ahead.
-For there should be no doubt: e-booking cuts the use of manpower, enhances quality and provides a cost-cutting potential that should appeal to us all - airlines and forwarders alike, says Mr Wichmann.
-We honestly do not see an upward trend in the volume of forwarders' e-bookings, says Kay Wichmann, Lufthansa Cargo director Nordic and Baltic countries.
-It seems that every time we have conducted a major campaign, e-booking figures are up. But after a while the volume slips back to earlier levels. Meaning that the volume is still far too low.
-There are probably several reasons behind this. One is that airfreight has remained a people-to-people business, despite all efforts. Another may be that we have simply not succeeded in developing an e-boooking platform that meets our customers' demands and expectations.
-Yet another factor is that forwarders will still have to address five or 10 different e-booking platforms during the day to book on different airlines. And this understandably does not make e-bookings attractive.
-We must of course find a solution to this situation. One is to cluster together with other airlines around one efficient e-booking platform, like GF-X. There may be other alternatives, but this is at least one viable way ahead.
-For there should be no doubt: e-booking cuts the use of manpower, enhances quality and provides a cost-cutting potential that should appeal to us all - airlines and forwarders alike, says Mr Wichmann.