Hiran flies from nothing to millions in Europe

Thursday, 24 July 2014 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hiran Houx, the boy who went from Colombo to Frankfurt in his teenage with nothing, is now big news in European business publications.

Hiran Houx

The dedicated team of CISMAT GmbH are ready and able to meet the demands of airlines and forwarding agencies alike

The efficient use of freight capacities is essential in today’s competitive business environment

CISMAT GmbH offers an all-round service for airlines and freight forwarders with benefits for all parties involved

He owns and runs CISMAT GmbH in Germany – a general sales service agency for air cargo with offices in several European countries. CISMAT is administered by a staff of 16 with an annual turnover of 46 million euros. He has also invested in the Sri Lankan hospitality industry. He runs the ‘Temple Trees’ niche hotel in Induruwa. The expanded new wing of the hotel will open in September. This is the full text from European Business Journal: As a general sales and service agency for air cargo with offices in several European countries, CISMAT GmbH in Kriftel in Germany establishes the important link between airlines and forwarders, creating synergies and value for both. Thanks to the high level of professionalism that has distinguished the company all along, its customer portfolio has grown to a remarkable size. Its very flexible structure allows CISMAT to maximise the operational outcome while minimising costs. Considering the fierce competition in the aviation industry, the optimum use of freight capacities is more important than ever. Forwarders, on the other hand, depend on efficient transport links and efficient distribution solutions at competitive prices. This is where CISMAT GmbH comes in as a company specialising in the optimisation of freight services with benefits for all parties involved. “We offer services in the field of air freight distribution and market the capacities offered by airlines to air freight forwarders, creating an efficient distribution structure and increasing customers’ profits at the same time,” explains managing director and proprietor Hiran Houx. “One of our particular strengths is to understand and meet the forwarder’s special wishes. Moreover, we are ready and able to offer additional services.” When Houx set up his own business in 2008, he could already draw on extensive managerial experience. At the age of 18, he had become responsible for the European express service of PAND AIR. Three years later he was appointed the youngest freight service manager on behalf of Sri Lankan Airlines at Frankfurt Airport. “I have always had a very enterprising spirit and have been curious to understand processes and developments,” explains Houx. “Seven years ago I decided to retire, but only three months later I became restless and established CISMAT in Germany.” Backed by the unique potential of know-how and experience mastered by its owner and managing director, CISMAT GmbH has seen a rapid and successful development and gained a strong position in its domestic market with 16 employees and an annual turnover in the area of 46 million EUR. On an international level the company benefits from the cooperation with subsidiaries in Austria and Romania within the CISMAT Group. The German enterprise is the exclusive representative of seven national carriers in Germany and ten airlines in Germany, Austria and Romania. These airlines include TAP Portugal, Royal Jordanian, Yemenia, Eritrean Airlines, Ariana Afghan Airlines, Pakistan International, Romanair and Fly Romanian. In the field of cargo services CISMAT provides integrated logistics services, import and export, operations control and ramp supervision, reservations, flight schedule and availability control, space allotment handling, domestic and international trucking, track and trace, automated booking information updates by fax or email, the preparation of load recommendations for ground handling agents and PO mail handling and supervision. The company’s financing services include CASS accounting, billing and lATA CASS data transfer and manual invoicing, key account management, sales, invoicing and accounting, bad dept liability, interfaces to third party systems, import collect AWB invoicing and PO mail billing. Proactive and creative marketing yields substantial revenue increases. Fixed costs are reduced, as the financial risk is covered by CISMAT GmbH. Moreover, the German enterprise offers full AWB data capture for invoicing purposes including automatic IATA rating, net/net-rating and the calculation of trucking, handling and other costs. Reporting is the last link in the chain. CISMAT delivers revenue accounting and reporting, the negotiation and implementation of handling and interline agreements, air waybill distribution and stock provision, user-specific program modules or reports accounting and data entries based on incoming C-IMP messages or manual entries. With marketing communications and management reporting to complement the offer, CISMAT provides a fully comprehensive service spectrum which unites the best of both worlds, meeting the interests of airlines wishing to use their capacities to the full and freight forwarders looking for optimum transport solutions. Encouraged by CISMAT’s successful development so far, Houx is determined to expand the company’s operations in new and familiar markets. In doing so, he can bank on the support of his qualified employees who are well trained to cover all aspects of the air cargo market and qualified to meet the demands of airlines and forwarding agencies alike.