Abacus enables E-Ticketing on Continental Airlines

Abacus International today signed an agreement with US-based carrier Continental Airlines to enable travel agencies throughout Asia Pacific to issue electronic tickets (e-tickets) for Continental flights.

In signing the deal, Continental became the 16th carrier to be able to offer its customers the speed and convenience of e-ticketing through the Abacus network.

Abacus-connected travel agencies in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand will be able to issue e-tickets for travel on Continental Airlines by the end of this month.

"This agreement with Continental Airlines is in line with our efforts to make e-ticketing the primary mode of ticketing in the region by 2007, and is a major step forward in our vision of realizing a paperless future," said Mr Rogelio Sarreal, Vice President, Associate Sales, Abacus International. 

E-ticketing has enjoyed rapid adoption throughout Asia-Pacific. Between January and August 2004, the number of e-tickets issued through the Abacus system increased 302 per cent on the same period last year. "Clearly, customers across Asia are demonstrating a marked preference for the convenience of e-tickets," Mr Sarreal said.

As a proportion of the total number of tickets issued through the Abacus system, e-tickets have increased from 2.8 per cent in January 2003, to 16.3 per cent in August 2004. 

"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.

"Continental Airlines has a very strong Asia-Pacific presence and a long history with e-ticketing. We felt it was necessary to provide the same benefits to our customers in the Asia Pacific region with the help of Abacus," said Mark Erwin, Senior Vice-President Asia-Pacific and Corporate Development, Continental Airlines.

"We've enjoyed considerable cost savings from implementing e-ticketing worldwide and it's become more popular with our customers than paper tickets. It just makes sense in today's world to be able to provide the services that address the needs of today's travellers," said Mr. Erwin.

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