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Abacus enables Hong Kong Travel Agents to issue Air New Zealand E-Tickets

Travel News Asia Tuesday, 18 July 2006

Authorised Abacus-connected travel agencies in Hong Kong are now able to issue e-tickets for their customers on Air New Zealand, making it the second e-ticketable market for the airline following the launch in Singapore earlier this year.

“The extension of e-ticketing to our customers in Hong Kong for booking Air New Zealand is part of Abacus’ aim to assist the entire industry to be e-ticketable by 31 December 2007 – as that’s the deadline set by the world’s airlines to make all ticketing transactions electronic,” said Patrick Lai, Vice President, Airline Marketing of Abacus International. “With the entire travel industry behind it, this objective is very much achievable in Asia, and Abacus remains committed to assist airlines, travel agents and the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) to reach this goal.”

“The first step is enabling the airlines so they can issue e-tickets, but then it is the adoption by the travel agents which will really help to drive travellers to be familiar with the technology and the benefits for quick uptake,” said Mr Lai. “Hong Kong is one of our star markets, rapidly grasping the concept with more and more people wanting the convenience and the benefits of travelling paperless. For example in June this year, about 55% of air tickets issued on the Abacus system in Hong Kong were e-tickets. During the same period, the number of ET issued also increased by about 35%.”

“Travel agents and travellers in Hong Kong are very pragmatic and technology savvy which is why e-ticketing is growing so rapidly in our market,” said Mr Tony Sham, General Manager of Abacus Distribution Systems Hong Kong. “We welcome Air New Zealand on board and look forward to continuing to work with them to increase their bookings in our market.”

Air New Zealand General Manager Peter Elmsly added, “Asia is an important market for our airline. With five flights a week currently between Hong Kong and New Zealand, moving to daily services for New Zealand/Hong Kong/London from November, we’re bringing more options to our travellers and more flexibility to the travel agents making those travel arrangements.”

E-ticketing is a real-time paperless method for airlines and travel agents to issue tickets. Individual ticket information is stored within the airline’s reservation system and can be retrieved electronically, reducing the amount of paper ticket inventory and hassle in re-issuance of misplaced printed tickets.

See other recent news regarding: GDS, Abacus, Hong Kong

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