Yemen Airways Goes Live With Online Booking

SANA'A YEMEN - 23 March, 2010 - Yemen Airways, the National carrier of the Republic of Yemen, today announced that online booking is now available to its passengers. The service on www.yemenia.com, provided by aviation IT specialist SITA, will make booking flights easier for domestic and international passengers

Captain Abdulkhalik Alkadi, Chairman of the Board of Yemen Airways, at the official launch of IBE today, said: "This is an exciting time for our airline. Being able to provide self-service booking to our passengers is great progress. It makes the booking process easier and also will also save us significant costs.

"Passengers booking their tickets online using the new SITA E-Commerce Platform effectively will bypass the traditional global distribution systems (GDSs) and that will save us significant fees. Our hope is to have 8% to 20% of our total sales made on our website which could result in up to $400,000 savings. We expect this to be higher in 2011 and subsequent years."

Mr. Mustafa Odetallah, Senior Director Sales, SITA Middle East and North Africa said: "The level of online booking is rising worldwide. According to the latest SITA IT Trends Survey, 27% of bookings are made online and expectations are for further growth to over 40% by 2012.

"This indicates that Yemen Airlines will see adoption rates for their online booking increase particularly as internet availability rises in Yemen."

This service is a continuation of the investment Yemen Airways is making with SITA in world class technology to provide services for its passengers and have the added benefit of improving the cost efficiency of the airline.

Passengers and travel agents can book tickets at www.yemenia.com for all international and domestic flights

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About SITA
SITA is the world's leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions. SITA delivers and manages business solutions for airline, airport, GDS, government and other customers over the world's most extensive network, which forms the communications backbone of the global air transport industry.

SITA's portfolio includes managed global communications, infrastructure and outsourcing services, as well as services for airline commercial management and passenger operations, flight operations, aircraft operations and air-to-ground communications, airport management and operations, baggage operations, transportation security and border management, cargo operations and more. With a customer service team of over 1,600 staff around the world, SITA invests significantly in achieving best-in-class customer service, providing integrated local and global support for both its communications and IT application services.

SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is the leading provider of in-flight connectivity, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company dedicated solely to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community: Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management.

SITA is one of the world's most international companies. Its global reach is based on local presence, with services for around 550 air transport industry members and 3,200 customers in over 200 countries and territories. In 2009, the company celebrates 60 years in business. Set up in 1949 with 11 member airlines, SITA today employs people of more than 140 nationalities, speaking over 70 different languages. SITA had consolidated revenues of over US$1.47 billion (€1.13 billion) in 2008.

For further information go to www.sita.aero

About Yemen Airways
Yemenia is the national flag carrier in Yemen and has emerged as a fast growing airline in the region as founded in 1961 and operates scheduled passengers and cargo services to more than 35 domestic and international destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Far East. Its fleet includes 3xB737-800, 4xA310 and 2xA330 aircraft as well as ten A350-800 on order.

Yemenia (Yemen Airways) was formed with 51% share by Yemen government and 49% by Saudi Arabia government. The formation of Yemenia had reflected an ideal international investment that is lasting until now.

Yemen Airways has successfully concluded its E Ticketing implementation program and managed to issue on 20th Dec 2006 the first Yemenia E Tickets. Yemenia has been given accreditation of IOSA ( IATA Operational Safety Audit ) Registration by IATA On July2007.

With a good vision in airline business and fully aware with the recent development in the industry, the new leadership had set up Yemenia goals and objectives so as to adapt to changes to economic, regulatory, and market condition consistent with:

Ø       An optimal public service in air transport could be provided by a public enterprise.
Ø       The Public Sector shall play the same role of Private Sector in a free market economy.
Ø       Maintain the social role and political implication of the airline

For further information (not for publication) contact:
SITA
Brenda Flinter
Public Relations Manager
Mobile: +353 87 750 6229
Email: Brenda.Flinter@sita.aero