|
Abacus International signed an agreement yesterday with Japan-based carrier ANA (All Nippon Airways) to enable travel agencies throughout Asia-Pacific to issue
electronic tickets (e-tickets) for ANA flights.
In signing the deal, ANA became the 19th carrier to be able to offer its customers the speed and convenience of e-ticketing through the Abacus network.
Abacus-connected travel agencies in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand will now be able to issue e-tickets for travel on ANA flights.
“E-ticketing has quickly become a hot item in the market as they are paving the way for paperless travel in today’s ever increasing technological environment,” said Mr
Rogelio Sarreal, Vice-President, Air Associates Sales, Abacus International.
“E-tickets are not only more secure and convenient for customers, but they offer substantial cost benefits for airlines and travel agencies, saving approximately
SG$13.00 per ticket issued,” said Mr Sarreal.
E-ticketing has enjoyed rapid adoption throughout Asia-Pacific, with Abacus playing a key role in establishing e-ticketing in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Singapore and more recently the Philippines.
In 2004, the total number of e-tickets issued through the Abacus system increased over 290 per cent on 2003. As a proportion of the total number of tickets issued
through the Abacus system, e-tickets have more than doubled from just over 7 per cent in 2003, to over 15.5 per cent of total tickets issued in 2004.
“The Asia-Pacific travel industry is a very important market to ANA, and while we have been providing e-ticketing to the Japanese market, European and American
markets for some time now, we felt it was time to offer the same services to a wider range of our customers” said Mr. Takashi Shiki, Director, Marketing & Sales Planning.
“By offering e-ticketing through Abacus, travel agents are able to provide a more efficient, and cost-effective service to customers. Travellers no longer have to worry
about losing valuable flight coupons and their tickets can be downloaded securely from any Internet-connected PC by entering their personalised reference number,” he
continued.
See
other recent news regarding:
Abacus,
ANA
|
