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Amadeus announced an agreement with Cathay Pacific to enhance the airline’s Amadeus e-Commerce online booking system that has been in use since 2005.
The Amadeus e-Commerce booking engine allows Cathay Pacific customers around the world to shop and purchase flights via the internet and the new Amadeus Automated Ticket Changer Shopper (ATC Shopper) enhancement will allow post-sales servicing online for customers, including self-service changes to itineraries and ticket reissue. Cathay Pacific is the first airline in Asia to implement this product.
The ATC Shopper enhancement provides Cathay Pacific customers with the ability to make changes to booked itineraries online and reissue their tickets themselves, featuring a user-friendly calendar display that simplifies the process of choosing the new itinerary. Previously, travellers wishing to change a reservation needed to contact a Cathay Pacific office or their travel agent.
Lawrence Fong, Manager of e-Business for Cathay Pacific said: “More and more of our passengers are today making bookings via the cathaypacific.com website and together with our e-commerce partner, Amadeus, we are now delighted to offer customers the flexibility of changing bookings themselves, providing them with even more control over their journeys.”
The new booking change facility has already proven to be popular with customers flying from the United States and Canada. The system will roll out next in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe markets, and will be introduced for Cathay Pacific’s home market, Hong Kong, during the fourth quarter of this year. By the second quarter of 2011 it will be available in every market around the Cathay Pacific network.
John Chapman, Vice President, Airline Group, Amadeus Asia Pacific, said “With the increase in levels of online booking continuing through the global financial crisis, it is important for airlines to offer customers more control over their online bookings. We are delighted to partner with Cathay Pacific to enhance the self-service capabilities offered to their customers and to set new standards for travel technology in Asia Pacific.
Besides Cathay Pacific, the Amadeus e-Commerce online booking suite is used by more than 25 airlines in Asia Pacific, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and V Australia.
Chapman added, “We expect to see a continued growth in online bookings and that airlines will work to expand the range of services offered via their websites. At Amadeus we strive to constantly evolve our technology solutions, and we are committed to enabling our airline customers to continue to enhance the online solutions they provide to their customers.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
