AirZim working towards sole e-ticketing system

Published: 11 November 2013

Air Zimbabwe is working towards the exclusive use of the electronic ticketing system as one of the measures to boost the company's revenue and profitability, a company official has said.

Currently, the e-ticketing system, which became mandatory in 2008, is operating alongside the physical ticketing system.

Economists opine that full adoption of the online registration system will result in the national flag carrier saving millions of dollars in its operations.

An airline ticket is a document created by an airline or a travel agency as confirmation for a reserved seat on an airplane flight. And an e-ticket is a ticket issued electronically and stored in a computer reservation system.

Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive Mr Edmund Makona indicated that the airline will continue adopting various strategies and initiatives to regain its competitive edge in the regional and international markets.

"Our focus has been on the profit and loss account of the company, and how we can manage the issue to do with loss. We have even looked at how we can change the culture of the organisation and the processes of doing business," he said.

"We are in a crisis and need to move with speed. The company is focusing on strategies that centre on effective yield management," he added.

The airline's spokesperson, Ms Shingai Taruvinga, told The Sunday Mail Business that the company was in the process of finalising the online ticketing system as one of the ways to minimise costs and advance revenue generation.

The move, she said, will boost business and accelerate efforts to return to profitability.

She, however, would not be drawn into revealing when the process will be completed.

"The e-ticketing system has been operational as required by the International Air Transport Association. But it is being applied together with the physical ticketing system. We expect to conclude the system (online ticketing) sooner rather than later," she said.

Ms Taruvinga said the e-ticketing system was much cheaper than the paper ticket and was convenient for most travellers.

According to experts, full compliance would tremendously reduce costs of the national flag carrier.

It is believed that Air Zimbabwe spends $10 to issue a ticket, but if the customer uses the e-ticketing platform, more than $9 in savings per ticket can be made since an e-ticket costs only a dollar to produce.

"The system enhances our cyber visibility and in turn brings more business for us. With the level of competition that exists in the airline industry, this is the way to go.

"Nevertheless, it should be noted that the benefits are not just for Air Zimbabwe but the passengers also. It brings convenience to them (passengers) as they can make their bookings from home or work and save time," added Ms Taruvinga.

However, when fully adopted, the airline is likely to shed more staff as work such as processing will be done electronically.

Meanwhile, the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport was officially opened on Friday although construction work is yet to be finalised.

Financial constraints have slowed down the speedy completion of the project, which has to date absorbed more than $2 million and still requires almost the same figure to be completed.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, the new terminal has a capacity to handle 1,5 million passengers per year.
- herald