In its dynamic stride to implement electronic ticketing, Gulf Air has further extended the facility across the globe covering destinations in Australia, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the Gulf and the UK.
Gulf Air recently extended its eticketing platform from Sabre to other Global Distribution Systems from Abacus, Amadeus and Galileo so travel agencies can use any of these platforms to issue etickets for travel between any Gulf Air destination where the facility is available.
“Electronic ticketing is the future and we are glad to be a part of it,” says Gulf Air Acting Vice President Information Technology Jalal Alqassab.
“Extending eticketing to our customers is part of Gulf Air’s ‘Smart Airline and Successful Business' strategy and our continuous efforts to serve our customers better.
"For passengers, eticket offers lower costs and greater flexibility; it provides them with last-minute change options, faster airport check-in and ease of use. No more worries about tickets being stolen, lost or simply forgotten. The booking always remains in the reservation system and can be accessed at any time."
Following the deadline set by IATA’s ‘Simplifying the Business’ strategy, which calls for the withdrawal of all paper tickets from travel agents around the world by the end of 2007, Gulf Air launched eticketing in November 2005 on its London-Bahrain-Singapore-Sydney routes.
This has been gaining popularity as more and more passengers have started using the facility, because of its inherent benefits.
Ever since, Gulf Air has been adding new destinations progressively and now passengers can purchase etickets to travel any destinations between Bahrain, Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London, Dublin, Doha, Singapore, Sydney, Johannesburg, Athens, Larnaca, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Cairo, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Mumbai, Delhi, Madras Kuala Lumpur, Dammam and Karachi.
"Electronic ticketing allows storing passenger travel data electronically and is designed to greatly reduce the manual effort spent today on issuing, delivering, tracking and reconciling paper tickets," says Gulf Air Head of Distribution and E-Commerce Lars Denlew.
"Typically a paper ticket today costs up to US$10 to process, whereas the processing cost of an e-ticket is only US$1. IATA processes around 300 million paper tickets each year, which means that a full implementation of e-ticketing could save the industry up to US$ 3.0 billion per year worldwide."
About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air, owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the Middle East region.
The regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced over more than half a century are still central to defining its brand and service ethos.
Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 50 cities in 30 countries. The fleet comprises 34 aircraft and has the distinct advantage of possessing the strongest network across the Middle East.
A platform for sustained commercial operation has been established over the past three years as part of a multi-phased turnaround programme. It has also provided a framework for a succession of innovative products and services including the unique Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies that form part of Gulf Air’s ’smart airline, successful business’ vision.
International recognition has been achieved as a result of the turnaround programme leading to numerous awards for the airline’s innovative and high quality products and services: These include:
• Best Onboard Catering in First and Business Class (Skytrax World Airline Catering Awards 2005)
• Best designed in-flight magazine (American Creativity Awards,2005)
• Middle East Leading First Class Airline (World Travel Awards 2005)
• World’s Leading Airport Lounge (World Travel Awards 2005)
• Middle East & North African Platinum Best Airline (MENA Travel Awards 2004
• Most Improved Airline (Skytrax Awards 2004)
• Middle East First Class Airline (Arabian Business Awards)
• Best new product launch for in-flight services (PAX international Readership Awards)
• Best First Class Onboard Food (Skytrax Food Category 2004)
• Best Business Class Check-in (Skytrax Check-in Category 2004)
• Middle East region’s best airport restaurant for its restaurant in Bahrain International Airport lounge (PAX International Readership Awards 2005)
Official Airline and Sponsor of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2007
