Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air achieved 100 per cent e-ticketing across its entire network, well ahead of IATA’s deadline of June 1, the airline said.

The airline also has completed 90 per cent Interline Electronic Ticketing (IET) arrangement with most of its partner airlines.

A dedicated Gulf Air professional team lead by Information Technology embarked on a major project to convert Gulf Air network to electronic ticketing in 2005.

Now all Gulf Air destinations are e-ticket enabled, including the new routes of Shanghai, which commenced on June 16, and Hyderabad which starts on July 1.

“We are very pleased to be among the world top airlines achieving 100 per cent e-ticketing compliance throughout our network as per our plan and well ahead of time despite the challenges and complexities it involved,” said Gulf Air chief executive officer Björn Näf.

E-ticket is by now the default method of issuing tickets for almost all airlines. It is a secure form of ticketing as the travel data is stored electronically in the reservation system, which can be accessed at any time and is never lost or stolen unlike paper tickets. Passengers can at any time print their e-ticket receipt from the Gulf Air Web site. In addition a passenger with an e-ticket can check in faster by just producing the e-ticket print out and an appropriate ID.

“Gulf Air partnered with Sabre Airline Solutions, the world’s leading airline technology provider, to implement the solution and ensure efficient access to the interlining community,” said Gulf Air director of information technology Jalal Al Qassab.

 “The solution helps Gulf Air distribute electronic tickets through its own sales channels and travel agencies, as well as check-in passengers with electronic tickets, and issue IETs.  We are glad to have accomplished the mission ahead of IATA deadline.”

Jim Barlow, Senior Vice President for the SabreSonic Suite of Products, said: “It was the partnership and great working relationship between Gulf Air and Sabre that helped this project to proceed so smoothly and efficiently”.  – TradeArabia News Service