Recently, with the cooperation of providers of aeronautical telecommunication services, the COSYS system, and cargo terminal information service platforms, BGS successfully completed the switchover of its cargo handling telecommunication channels, taking a solid step toward building digital air cargo ground handling services.

It is reported that, in order to optimize the pickup service experience for freight forwarders, enhance the efficiency of cargo handling operations for inbound flights, and meet the data integration requirements of the Group’s relevant business units and joint inspection agencies such as security checks, the ground services company has launched a project to build a cargo terminal information service platform.

The key aspect of this project is to adjust the upstream telegram channel of the cargo terminal’s operating system without disrupting the normal operation of BGS’s existing cargo terminal business. Specifically, on the one hand, the service provided by TravelSky’s telegrams will be switched from the webservices mode to the more advanced MATIP mode; on the other hand, the routing of telegrams will be changed from direct connection to the COSYS system to a new platform that links the COSYS system in series. As a result, telegrams that were previously accessible only through a single cargo terminal operating system can now be shared among multiple systems.

The greatest challenge throughout the entire process lies in minimizing the impact on business operations. Since the cargo terminal operates continuously around the clock, the telex channel—serving as the primary source of information for the cargo handling system to parse flight and waybill data—constantly sends and receives various types of business messages. Therefore, the telex channel switchover must be meticulously prepared, characterized by seamless collaboration, swift execution, and reliable coordination. If the switchover fails and we are forced to revert to the original channel, it will not only be time-consuming and labor-intensive but also severely disrupt the normal operation of cargo handling business, potentially even harming the interests of freight forwarders and airlines.

To this end, the Department of Science and Technology Information, in close collaboration with the Cargo Department, carried out several months of preparatory work, including drafting the operational plan, validating scripts, revising 17 different versions, and conducting extensive technical tests and joint debugging sessions with the relevant system service providers. On November 16, after carefully considering all factors and meticulously completing seven preparatory tasks, BGS initiated the switchover of the cargo business telecommunication channel at 8:00 p.m. that evening. The entire process was overseen by the head of BGS’s Cargo Terminal Information Service Platform, with close cooperation among the heads of the COSYS cargo terminal system and data center equipment, the System Management Office of the Cargo Department, engineers from the relevant service providers, and multiple departments of TravelSky. After four hours of intense operations and testing, a total of five major categories and 11 sub-items were successfully validated. The entire telecommunication channel switchover operation was completed smoothly, achieving a seamless transition at the cargo business level. Subsequently, data monitoring continued for another three days, during which the COSYS cargo terminal operating system functioned flawlessly. Meanwhile, the Cargo Terminal Information Service Platform made optimization and updates based on the four recommendations raised during the validation process. As of now, since the switchover, the telecommunication channel has received a total of 12,224 messages and sent 6,249 messages. No reports have been received indicating loss or errors in messages from airline customers, nor have any abnormal conditions occurred in cargo terminal operations. Thus, the telecommunication channel switchover operation has been a complete success.

Next, BGS will continue to monitor the quality of telegram transmission and reception, optimize the electronic freight manifest process for ground handling services, steadily build a cargo terminal information service platform, enhance data interconnectivity among various cargo handling systems, improve the service experience for shippers, boost the operational efficiency of cargo terminals, and provide strong support for the digital transformation of Beijing Capital Airport’s cargo operations.