The Malaysian airline AirAsia has launched a blockchain-based air cargo network known as Freightchain. The network seeks to eliminate the tedious manual process previously involved, making it convenient for both the clients and the airline. AirAsia is Malaysia’s largest airline, and it launched the network through Teleport, which is its logistics arm. It enables the clients to view the available cargo spaces on its airlines and make bookings in real-time.
Freightchain will replace the previous system of manually searching cargo flights.
According to the airline, the blockchain network dubbed as Freightchain will replace the previous system, where the clients would have to manually search for the cargo airlines that best suit their needs. In the previous system, the clients often had to send several emails and make calls to several airlines before making the booking, and even then, they were not sure they were getting the best deals and often had to settle for what they got. The network’s CTO Vishal Batra said that launching Freightchain under the current coronavirus pandemic was strategic.
“The pandemic has brought global supply chains to its feet.”
CTO Vishal Batra further noted that the current crisis because of the pandemic had brought global supply chains to their feet, with many critical companies being forced to shut down operations. He believes that Freightchain can take advantage of the situation and help bridge this gap. He commented that the company deliberately launched Freightchain during this period of uncertainty within global supply chains caused by the global pandemic. “Agile software platforms like Freightchain help to connect uneven supply and demand amidst a rapidly unfolding environment. Trust and transparency are needed now more than ever,” he added.
During the pilot project of this blockchain network, it helped shipped pharmaceutical products from Bangalore, India, to Ulan Bator in Mongolia, which went successfully. The Malaysian airline revealed that the blockchain network would allow them to manage their cargo space better.
