Daily News  :: East Africa

Addis Ababa - Ethiopian airline on Thursday announced the upgrading of its passenger service management by switching from SITA to Sabre IT system with effect from midnight on November 3 2006.

The new passenger services management system has 10 different applications that would enable the airline to effectively and efficiently manage its customer services chain starting from booking to baggage handling, the management said.

Among other benefits, the new Sabre Passenger Service Management IT System has enhanced passenger booking and ticketing features, electronic ticketing facilities, customer friendly airport check-in system and state-of-the-art Internet booking with electronic payment system.

"Our ShebaMiles (frequent flyer programme) will also be upgraded to an enhanced Internet based system, which will enable our frequent flyer members to access their account from any part of the world," said the airline in its announcement.

New members of ShebaMiles could enroll on this system while those already registered on the programme would be able to check their accumulated mileage and account statement, redeem their mileage reward and communicate their comments to the airline.

"This system upgrade is one component of Ethiopian's Vision 2010 by which it reposition itself as Africa's world class airline. It will also position the airline in a better IT infrastructure to receive the Dreamliner Boeing 787 in September 2008," Ethiopian management added.

SITA has for years been regarded as the world's leading provider of communications and IT solutions to the air transport industry, but of late more and more airlines in North America, Europe and Asia have favoured Sabre systems.

Ethiopian provides connections to 47 destinations around the world, including 28 in Africa, via its Addis Ababa hub. -panparess