UAE aviation set to achieve100pc e-ticketing target
The UAE aviation sector is on track to achieve the 100 per cent e-ticketing deadline by the end of the month, but travel agents are expected to continue issuing paper version of the new air ticket details during a phase-in period.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had set May 31, 2008 as deadline for all airlines to use e-tickets, the electronic version of conventional paper tickets, as IATA will cease printing paper tickets. This is expected to save the industry $3 billion a year.
As of April, IATA figures showed 91 per cent e-ticketing achievement in the Middle East and North Africa region. Most Middle East carriers are over 95 per cent with only Saudi Arabian Airlines at 84 per cent, but progressing quickly
UAE’s major carriers, Etihad Airways and Emirates achieved 100 per cent e-ticketing about one month ahead of IATA’s deadline and continue to sign interline agreements with travel agents and code-sharing airlines to issue e-tickets.
Keith Longstaff, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations Worldwide said: “Electronic ticketing benefits both the customer and the airline by providing greater convenience, reduced processing time, simplified operations and faster check-in. Customer response has been extremely positive, and today e-tickets have become a norm.”
British Airways has 99 per cent e-ticketing but a spokesperson said paper tickets would be accepted for at least one year from June 1.
Meanwhile, Air Arabia has been using 100 per cent e-ticketing since its inception and Public Relations Manager Housam Raydan said all clients were emailed the details.
“The agent books it online and emails it to the client,” he said. “All the passenger needs is the reservation number and the passport.”
He, however, acknowledged that many clients choose to print the details at home.
Indian Airlines Gulf Regional Manager Abhay Pathak said both Indian and its sister airline Air India, used 100 per cent e-ticketing, but expected printouts to be issued while clients became aware of the product.
“The blue collar segment will be supported by the agents and the process explained,” he said. “Printouts will be provided. It will be cut down eventually.”
Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG) Manager Leo Fewtrell said the extent to which e-ticketing remained an online process and the reception it received from the public, could not be estimated until after the deadline passed.
Alpha Tours Travel and Holidays General Manager Fabian Fernandes strongly rejected the perception among travel agents that UAE residents were slow to adapt to online travel processes.
Fernandes said clients were already well educated about e-ticketing and had often previously opted for it because incentives made it cheaper than paper tickets.
He said e-ticketing deadline would also see the travel agency launch an SMS (short message service) system in the second week of July to text the details of air travel.
“We will have a new system to SMS ticket details to phones with the itinerary,” he said. “Initially, we will be doing printouts, until July.”
/ Khaleej Times/
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had set May 31, 2008 as deadline for all airlines to use e-tickets, the electronic version of conventional paper tickets, as IATA will cease printing paper tickets. This is expected to save the industry $3 billion a year.
As of April, IATA figures showed 91 per cent e-ticketing achievement in the Middle East and North Africa region. Most Middle East carriers are over 95 per cent with only Saudi Arabian Airlines at 84 per cent, but progressing quickly
UAE’s major carriers, Etihad Airways and Emirates achieved 100 per cent e-ticketing about one month ahead of IATA’s deadline and continue to sign interline agreements with travel agents and code-sharing airlines to issue e-tickets.
Keith Longstaff, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations Worldwide said: “Electronic ticketing benefits both the customer and the airline by providing greater convenience, reduced processing time, simplified operations and faster check-in. Customer response has been extremely positive, and today e-tickets have become a norm.”
British Airways has 99 per cent e-ticketing but a spokesperson said paper tickets would be accepted for at least one year from June 1.
Meanwhile, Air Arabia has been using 100 per cent e-ticketing since its inception and Public Relations Manager Housam Raydan said all clients were emailed the details.
“The agent books it online and emails it to the client,” he said. “All the passenger needs is the reservation number and the passport.”
He, however, acknowledged that many clients choose to print the details at home.
Indian Airlines Gulf Regional Manager Abhay Pathak said both Indian and its sister airline Air India, used 100 per cent e-ticketing, but expected printouts to be issued while clients became aware of the product.
“The blue collar segment will be supported by the agents and the process explained,” he said. “Printouts will be provided. It will be cut down eventually.”
Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG) Manager Leo Fewtrell said the extent to which e-ticketing remained an online process and the reception it received from the public, could not be estimated until after the deadline passed.
Alpha Tours Travel and Holidays General Manager Fabian Fernandes strongly rejected the perception among travel agents that UAE residents were slow to adapt to online travel processes.
Fernandes said clients were already well educated about e-ticketing and had often previously opted for it because incentives made it cheaper than paper tickets.
He said e-ticketing deadline would also see the travel agency launch an SMS (short message service) system in the second week of July to text the details of air travel.
“We will have a new system to SMS ticket details to phones with the itinerary,” he said. “Initially, we will be doing printouts, until July.”
/ Khaleej Times/
