National Daily

More airlines adopt e-ticketing

•As travel agencies get TA approval

THE new e-ticketing era of ticket sales among airlines in the country now seams to be receiving a boom as more airlines now enlist in the e-ticketing service era, thereby increasing the number of travel agencies that have, so far, received approval for Ticketing Authority (TA) to operate ticketing services on behalf of the airlines.

The T.A, which was reported to have been withheld from travel agencies by some airlines, was, according to stakeholders, said would have caused a set back on the exploration of the e-ticketing initiative if further delay in the release of TA to travel agencies had persisted.

It could be recalled that initially, only a few number of airlines; British Airways, Air France and Virgin Nigeria indicated their positive drive towards the concept, but only KLM, Virgin Nigeria and Air France were not reluctant to release TA to the travel agencies in the country. This act, stakeholders in the industry already describe as lack of confidence in the initiative.

The airlines that recently released TA to their travel agencies are; Kenya and the British Airways. These now brings the number of carriers that have released TA to their travel agencies so far to a total of five, thereby also increasing the number of travel agencies that are TA approved, with two travel agencies each from both carriers.
A source close to one of the GDSs expressed displeasure at the number of airlines and travel agencies that have, so far, aligned with the concept, saying that it was a poor turnout. The source says that the numbers could improve if only these major players, who actually require the concept for their operation, could show their commitment towards the new development.

Industry watchers however urged that players in the industry should encourage the e-ticketing era in order or the industry to achieve the purpose for which the concept was introduced.