Monday, 05 February 2007

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Airlines has decided to start a new e-ticketing service as part of the airline's efforts to take advantage of e-trade and electronic applications.

The airline has invested over $6.7 million on the implementation of new services. The e-ticketing system, which makes it possible to reserve a seat by phone or online, will begin on the Feb. 7 for domestic flights, according to SAA officials.

Flights between Dammam and Jeddah can already be booked via e-ticketing as the first stage of initiation begins. Two weeks after the Dammam-Jeddah connections are included in the system at the King Abdul Aziz Intl' Airport, the next two weeks will incorporate all Jeddah to Riyadh flights.

"We started the e-ticketing service between Jeddah-Dammam on Feb. 4 and in 3 months' time all local destinations will be included in the structure," said Yousef Attiya, SAA customer service vice president.

Ali Abdul-Malik, a Dammam businessman, assured travelers the new procedure would save more time, especially for those who travel frequently.

"SAA is one of biggest airlines in the Middle East in both the number of aircraft and passengers," Abdul-Malik said. "They should have the same standard of service as all international airlines and should provide their customers with facilities that other airlines have been extending for decades."

An official from King Fahd Intl' Airport in Dammam said this is a big step. Despite it being an expensive project, it will prove SAA is equal to all international airlines, he added.

"SAA is one of the leading airlines in the Gulf and Arab world, and domestically it flies to 26 different destinations," the official said.

Khalid Al-Mulhem, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, said, "This program is part of the process the airlines is undergoing to upgrade its services to ensure better amenities, less effort and more time for SAA passengers."

The new program will include the development of the Stars ticketing and reservations system and it will connect all international stations. It will also provide awareness programs for passengers, travel agents and government sectors.

Taha Abbas, one of Saudia's regular customers in Jeddah, said it is time for SAA to change their services and become like other airlines. "We are just as good as any other airlines in the world; we need to be updated and be aware of what's going on around us," he said.

Five African airlines have already embraced E-ticketing. They are Precision Air, South African Airways, Air Namibia, Air Seychelles and Kenya Airways.

Turkish Airlines has e-ticketing available for services between New York or Chicago and Istanbul, as well as between Istanbul and selected cities in Turkey and Europe. Other airlines with the service include Swissair, Sabre Airline, SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airways.

By Shroog Talal Radain

© The Saudi Gazette 2007