UNITED, NORTHWEST AND AIR CANADA BACK NEW AIR CARGO PORTAL

UNITED, NORTHWEST AND AIR CANADA BACK NEW AIR CARGO PORTAL    United Airlines Cargo, Northwest Airlines Cargo, Air Canada Cargo and the information technology firm Unisys Corp. are planning to launch a new air cargo internet portal in January.
      Unisys said on Wednesday that the senior staff from nine major freight forwarders were the first to see the Cargo Portal Services portal in live operation.
      The new internet portal will allow freight forwarders to book and manage a shipment through its lifecycle, and effectively integrate their computer systems with those of the multiple air carriers, as well as reduce transaction costs, according to Unisys.
   Cargo Portal Services is expected to compete against Global Freight Exchange and Cargoreservations.com, two portals that were launched several years ago.
   James Kagawa, vice president, information technology at the forwarder Kintetsu World Express, said that while other e-commerce ventures “only ‘accept’ bookings,” Cargo Portal Services will give global forwarders the integration capability they need.
   Cargo Portal Services operates on any personal computer that can support a major browser.
   Unisys said that the portal will be “carrier neutral.” The firm is talking to other carriers who may join the portal.