Seoul, Korea and Gaithersburg, Md. — August 21, 2007— GXS, a leading provider of business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce solutions, today announced that leading Korean air carrier, Asiana Airlines, has selected GXS Enterprise Gateway to support the secure electronic transfer of cargo information in accordance with commercial aviation safety rules.  GXS’ unique B2B integration broker, GXS Enterprise Gateway, enables Asiana to connect with SITA, the aviation industry’s global communications services integrator, which pools the information and provides it to appropriate authorities in advance of a flight’s arrival. 

For security purposes, airports around the world now require that airlines provide cargo-related data to security authorities as soon as a flight has departed.  For some airlines, this has required significant improvements in communications infrastructure.  By connecting Asiana to the SITA platform, via GXS Trading Grid®, the airline has not only strengthened its security procedures, but also now has the ability to connect to airline support companies such as catering and ground support services.  Most airlines need to turn their aircraft around as quickly as possible after they have landed; providing an integrated and seamless B2B platform will allow Asiana to further improve how they work with key aviation related partners around the world.

Developed through a strategic partnership between GXS and Software AG’s webMethods, Enterprise Gateway is a B2B integration software platform that enables companies to connect their internal enterprise systems to external business partners.  Asiana Airlines, one of South Korea's two leading airlines, with a fleet of 59 aircraft covering 74 international passenger routes, selected GXS Enterprise Gateway to simplify compliance with airline safety rules and ensure safe electronic transfer of all required information.  SITA provides data to the authorities on arrivals and departures to help detect and manage security risks to passengers and the aviation industry as a whole.  By ensuring cargo information arrives at a flight's destination before it lands, airlines can ease the processing of data, thus indirectly promoting business and trade.

"To maintain business growth and comply with ever-changing and expanding airline safety rules, it was vital that we found a solution that could integrate our back-end systems with those of SITA," said Park Ji Seng, cargo IT and e-biz manager of Asiana Airlines, Inc.  "GXS Enterprise Gateway provides us with a secure, easy-to-use platform for integrating with SITA as well as real-time visibility into our transactions with trading partners.  In addition, we are able to expand the use of GXS Enterprise Gateway as needed to include other trading partners and suppliers around the world.”

GXS Enterprise Gateway provides Asiana Airlines with a single B2B integration platform for centralizing, monitoring and optimizing real-time transfer of information to SITA systems.  The service includes GXS’ high performance B2B translation software, GXS Application Integrator, and is packaged with a pre-configured adapter to GXS Trading Grid, instantly connecting Asiana to more than 35,000 business partners around the globe.  Powered, in part, by webMethods, the solution leverages a service-oriented architecture to provide customers, such as Asiana, with the flexibility to meet current and future integration needs. 

"With air transportation set to continue its dramatic growth in the next few years, IT systems that enhance security and simplify the processing of data will become even more critical," said Raymond Teh, vice president of Asia Pacific operations at GXS.  "Asiana’s focus is on getting its cargo to destinations in a timely and efficient manner.  GXS Enterprise Gateway complements that mission perfectly by simplifying and speeding the transfer of passenger information in a secure manner.  In addition, Asiana benefits from the broad functionality of the webMethods product suite, and from the reach and global nature of GXS Trading Grid, enabling Asiana to expand its use of the solution with other trading partners."

Building upon the strategic partnership between GXS and webMethods, now owned by Software AG, announced in November 2004, GXS B2B Gateway solutions provide customers a powerful global business integration solution to automate and manage global trading communities.  GXS Enterprise Gateway enables customer companies to achieve 100 percent integration with systems and trading partners - inside and outside the four walls of the enterprise.  Its benefits include providing a single unified platform that manages current business integration needs that can expand as business needs expand.  GXS Enterprise Gateway also provides real-time business visibility and optimization, as well as complete trading partner community connectivity.

About Asiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines - the company that comes closest to its customers with a smile as beautiful as a wing with stripes of many colors puts safety first with advanced equipment and a new fleet.  Asiana Airlines is the company that realizes customer satisfaction and a service that is based on the customer's expectations.  Asiana Airlines is always evolving to ensure enjoyable and comfortable travel.
Established in 1997, Star Alliance is the world's first carrier alliance group to provide the world's best service coverage, quality and safety.  Asiana Airlines will provide the best quality services to its customers as a regular member of Star Alliance.

GXS is a leading global provider of B2B e-commerce solutions that simplify and enhance business process integration, synchronization and collaboration among trading partners. Organizations worldwide, including 75 percent of the Fortune 500, leverage the GXS Trading Grid® to extend supply networks, optimize product launches, automate warehouse receiving, manage electronic payments and gain supply chain visibility. With an unmatched global presence, proven trading partner management and B2B outsourcing services, GXS’ on-demand solutions maximize the benefits of integration for businesses. 

Based in Gaithersburg, Md., GXS’ extensive global network serves customers throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions.  GXS can be found on the Web at www.gxs.com.

All products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.

Media Contacts:

Jane Cheng GXS, Asia-Pacific Marketing   +852 2884 6029   jane.cheng@gxs.com

Allison Tobin GXS, Global Public Relations +1 (301) 34-4988 allison.tobin@gxs.com