Abacus enables E-Ticketing on ANA

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.

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