April 13th, 2006
BA joins European firms to launch net travel agency
British Airways Plc (BA) is to join 10 European airlines to launch an Internet travel agency which aims to cut industry costs of ticketing and distribution.
The online agency will allow travellers to look at flight information and prices from all the airlines involved in the project as well as car hire services, hotels and travel insurance with the scheme expected to be launched by the end of the year.
The new project includes Air France, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SAS, KLM, Alitalia, British Midland, Aer Lingus and Finnair.
According to a statement by BA customers will have access to the biggest international route network and some of the lowest fares available while airlines will reduce their costs of ticketing, travel agent commission and booking fees.
By the end of 2003 BA plans to be selling 50% of its tickets via the Internet and expects annual revenue generated online to rise to GBP700m from GBP45m by March 2002. The agency is also expected to save BA an estimated GBP442m by March 2002, the airline said.