Ticking Towards e-Ticketing
By Emmanuel Uffot
Sunday, April 20, 2008
There is anxiety in the aviation industry in Nigeria over IATA's deadline for all airlines to be e-ticketing compliant
The May 2008 deadline set by International Air Transport Association, IATA, for all airlines to be e-ticketing compliant is generating mixed reactions among airline operators in Nigeria. While some airlines believe it is a good development, others are not sure it is a realistic deadline. The electronic ticketing is a system whereby airline passengers could buy their tickets and get reservation online either in the comfort of their homes or their offices. IATA, last year, muted the idea of online ticketing by airlines as a way of phasing out paper ticketing which the body argued is old-fashioned and costly. The aviation body puts expenses usually incurred in printing paper tickets by airlines in Nigeria alone at four billion Naira annually.
Mohammed Tukur, executive director, Afrijet Airlines and assistant secretary, Airline Operators of Nigeria, argued in favour of e-ticketing as a good development since paper ticketing is no more fashionable. He said members of his association have embraced the system but noted that the power situation could work against e-ticketing in Nigeria. Tukur said apart from some major international airlines like British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic, local operators like Arik Air, Virgin Nigeria, Afrijet and Bellview have started online ticketing system.
He said the innovation was coming in good time given the facilities now available at MMA2 domestic terminal, which users have adjudged to be of international standard. According to him, the local operators have no cause to entertain any fear since the new ticketing system will reduce the usual crowd at counters of the airlines.
Solomon Ibharuneafe, corporate affairs manager of IRS Airlines, also confirmed to Newswatch that the airline is complying with the new ticketing system. He said that going by the short notice, some airlines would find it difficult to fully integrate the online ticketing system. He, however, said IRS was already working towards ensuring that by May ending, they would have fully embraced the online ticketing system.
Akin Odukunle, general manager, public affairs, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said the agency was fully in support of the e-ticketing idea given the huge cost. Sam Adurogboye, media assistant to the director-general of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, was unavailable for comment on their role in the new ticketing system, but an official of the agency who wishes anonymity said even before the pronouncement by IATA, the regulatory agency had over the years educated airlines on the need to introduce electronic ticketing in their operation. He said it was their job to ensure that the airlines comply with the new policy by May ending.
But Adejumi Jimoh, an accountant, who is a frequent traveller, said in as much as he welcomes the new development, he feels the major concern of any passenger is safety, not the mode of ticket payment. Jimoh drew attention to the case of the missing aircraft, which he said had exposed the prevalent rot in the nation's aviation sector in spite of the huge sums expended in recent years to improve facilities at the airport. He believes IATA and the relevant regulatory authorities in Nigeria should be pre-occupied with policies that would regain the confidence of air travellers.
Anthony Udoh, who works in an airline, said there was no way airlines would comply fully with the e-ticketing system now that issues bothering on good facilities at the major airports are still raising concern. Udoh said though the benefit of electronic ticketing could be likened to what ATM card has done in the banking industry, there should be a gradual approach to it, instead of IATA imposing a deadline. He wonders what the authorities will do to those that failed to automate their ticketing operation at the end of the deadline.
When operational what passengers will do is to access any airline they want to fly with, book for their flights and pay through any receiving bank. The bank will then issue a slip that they will take to the airport to board the plane upon clearance by the airline.
Also, the banks would take over the role of the travel agencies that have been serving as airline's reservation agents for their customers wishing to travel abroad but can not go to the their preferred airlines to book because of time constraint.
There are fears within the industry that many airlines will not meet the May deadline. An official of one of the aviation agencies said sanction on any airline that failed to meet the deadline was not on the cards because if the new policy was to be enforced, there would still be a considerable period of grace. He said even the ones that would embrace the online would still have paper ticketing until it is gradually phased out.
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