Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is using Sabre Airline Solutions technology to let customers book e-tickets over the Internet and pay by credit card.  The airline has introduced e-ticketing for all bookings made directly with the airline and through travel agencies, eliminating paper ticketing long before the IATA-mandated deadline of 31 December 2007. 

The airline has rolled out its Internet-based SabreSonic Web application in major regional markets, enabling it to issue e-tickets for online bookings.  SabreSonic Web is planned for introduction in all international markets in 2007.  Additionally, PIA is implementing kiosk and Web check-in applications. These initiatives are a part of the airline’s Customer First service upgrade programme.

Tariq Kirmani, chairman of PIA, said: “With our Customer First programme, we plan to offer efficient e-ticketing services to our customers in all markets that PIA serves.  We turned to Sabre Airline Solutions for assistance with this based on its industry expertise and experience and our long-standing partnership.”
   
More than 125 airlines are already able to issue e-tickets through the Sabre GDS.  Of these, more than 60 have already joined Sabre Airline Solutions’ Interline Electronic Ticketing Hub.  This allows them to establish interline e-ticketing with each other more quickly and easily than if they had to establish bilateral e-ticketing agreements and direct communication links.  It also incorporates full support for third-party ground handlers, critical to many airlines in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

PIA is expected to join the Sabre Airline Solutions Interline Electronic Ticketing Hub during the first quarter of 2007, joining airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Continental, Delta, Emirates, Gulf Air, JAL, Qantas and Singapore Airlines. 

The PIA e-ticketing and Internet booking projects are based around components of the SabreSonic Passenger Solutions suite of traveller management technology - part of a portfolio of more than 100 integrated products.

“Sabre Airline Solutions welcomes the opportunity to enable this improvement in PIA’s product and customer service. This is a significant step forward for the travel industry in the region and for the IATA e-ticketing mandate,” said Steve Clampett, Sabre Airline Solutions’ president of products and solutions.  “It also extends the role that we already play in providing global distribution services, reservations, check in and other systems services to PIA and Pakistan aviation sector.”       

PIA maintains a long-term information technology partnership with Sabre Airline Solutions and sister-company Sabre Travel Network, operator of the world’s largest global distribution system, for the distribution and sale of all its products through travel agencies in every part of the world. 

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