Internet-enabled travel, or e-travel, will dominate the global travel industry in coming years, industry officials said.
"Ticketless travel is going to be the norm in the Middle East in the next few years. The travel and tour-ism industries are going through a fundamental change in this part of the world," said Deborah Frampton, British Airways manager for the UAE.
"Globally, British Airways records 25,000 visits per hour. More than 9,000 tickets are sold online per hour.
"The airline nets 2.3 million per day [Dh15.8 million] through online sales in the UK market alone. We have achieved 50 per cent e-ticketing across our network of 240 destinations, in which 150 have e-ticketing and e-boarding pass facilities," she said.
British Airways recently announced the roll-out of electronic ticketing to travel agents in the GCC.
Working closely alongside Galileo, one of the leading suppliers of Global Distribution Services, British Airways now offers customers cost-effective ticketing.
Appreciating the desire of customers for hassle-free travel, the airline has met the growing demand for internet-based solutions by partnering with Galileo to expand the availability of e-tickets. At present, more than 75 per cent of the tickets issued by local British Airways offices in the GCC are e-tickets.
"As the only European carrier in the region to introduce e-ticketing, we are taking the lead in implementing the new technologies available in the travel industry," she said.
"The advantages of e-tickets for our trade partners and customers are enormous. With e-ticketing being available on more than 95 per cent of British Airways routes worldwide, as well as on connections to our oneworld alliance partners, we feel certain this will give travellers in the UAE increased flexibility and freedom with their journey.
"This trend is picking up in the UAE as well. More than 106,000 customers visit our website from the UAE.
"In the Gulf, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are leading the way in e-ticketing. Except Riyadh, all other cities in the Gulf where British Airways flies have e-ticketing facilities," she said.
"The beauty of this is one can select one's seat and see the options available on board, either isle or a window seat. A passenger can also find out who is seated next to him or her.
"We have already introduced e-booking, e-ticketing and issuing e-boarding passes to travellers in this region, as part of our increasing customer services to the passengers as well as the travel agents," she said.
British Airways passengers in the Gulf now can book a seat, change it, buy their e-ticket online, and download their e-boarding passes by clicking on a button.
A traveller can also book a limo or hotel room, or buy a travel package online through the British Airways website, which has a link to its holiday division.
"A traveller can download the itinerary, as well as travel vouchers online, and avail themselves of holiday packages, without having to physically go and meet travel consultants," Frampton said.
"This is one of the most advanced e-travel engine currently available in the world," she said. Travel agencies in the UAE are also embracing e-travel.
"Recently, we supported a training programme with Galileo, to implement the new system at Airlink, which is now offering our e-tickets," she said.
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