Alliance Airlines to adopt total e-ticketing by first quarter 2003

Alliance Airlines will move to total e-ticketing through Australian travel agencies by the end of February 2003, replacing the traditional multi-sheet paper ticket with a reference number which simply needs to be presented with photo ID when passengers check in for flights.

The expanding airline, based in Brisbane, currently provides e-ticketing through the Sabre and Galileo global distribution systems.

By the end of February, the airline will also offer e-ticketing to agents using the Amadeus GDS system. Until that time Amadeus agents will continue to use paper based ticketing.

Alliance currently flies from Brisbane to Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Norfolk Island, and from Sydney to Norfolk Island using 91 seat Fokker 100 jets.

"The introduction of e-ticketing has simplified travel for our customers, made bookings easier for agents and helped us to reduce our administrative costs dramatically," said Alliance Managing Director Mr Scott McMillan.

"Currently, e-ticketing accounts for approximately 70 per cent of all of our bookings," said Mr McMillan.

"When the Amadeus GDS upgrades early in the new year, all passengers except interline passengers on our scheduled services will be using e-tickets."

Alliance now has interline agreements in place with a number of international carriers including Air New Zealand, United, Thai, Malaysian and Korean, with additional agreements currently under negotiation.

Mr McMillan said travel agents were a most important partner in the airline's growth strategy, and initiatives such as e-ticketing would make it easier for agents to book Alliance fares.

"We are very agent-friendly," said Mr McMillan. "Despite worldwide trends by many larger airlines to move away from agents, Alliance clearly recognises their benefit and the reach of their distribution.

"As an example Alliance does not price its internet and retail fares differently.

"Travel agents know intimately the communities in which they work, and in which we also participate or wish to participate, and it is in our best interests to form strong partnerships with each other.

"We have done this already through agreements with a number of travel agency chains, and together we will meet the air transport needs of our travellers with high quality servicing and comfortable, reliable flights. E-ticketing helps to make the process easier and more economical for all concerned."