ABACUS AND SINGAPORE AIRLINES TO IMPLEMENT E-TICKETING THROUGH TRAVEL AGENTS

ABACUS International, the Asia-Pacific’s largest Global Distribution System, and Singapore Airlines (SIA) are implementing electronic ticketing (or e-ticketing) on SIA services through Singapore travel agents. A pilot project involving five agents began earlier this month.

E-ticketing is an alternative way of buying tickets that frees customers from carrying paper travel documents.

Customers do not need to worry about misplacing tickets: instead, the passenger's flight details and the relevant travel and payment data are stored in the airline’s reservations system.

But e-ticketing does not mean totally paperless travel. Customers are still assured of their seats through an itinerary/invoice document from their travel agent.

For ABACUS travel agents, e-ticketing is more efficient as they can view the status of the electronic ticket instantly.

ABACUS Vice President, Associate Marketing & Corporate Planning, Rogelio Sarreal, said: “ABACUS is delighted to implement e-ticketing for Singapore Airlines. E-ticketing is fast becoming a requirement in the air travel industry. Abacus is the first GDS to introduce e-ticketing in the Singapore market for Singapore Airlines. The infrastructure will be in place to implement other carriers on e-ticketing in Singapore – a reflection of Abacus’ commitment to introduce cutting edge technology for the benefit of the airlines as well as travel consumer.”

Said SIA’s Area Vice-President for Singapore, Chia Boon Kuah: “Many travellers find e-ticketing is a convenient way of buying tickets. We are confident that this pilot project will be successful, and the facility can be extended to more travel agencies soon.”

The five agencies participating in the pilot are BTI Global Travel, P&O Garden City Travel, Safe2Travel.com, Sino-America (UIC) Tours Corporation and UOB Travel Planners. SIA plans to introduce the facility progressively to all SIA-appointed travel agents in Singapore and will work with CRS companies internationally to introduce it in other major SIA markets.