British Airways considers the last decade to have been one of the most eventful and revolutionary periods in the history of air travel as it looks back at technological innovations over the period.
From online check-in to onboard connectivity, British Airways has rolled-out products designed for ease and convenience of its passengers, which it believes have made it the “World’s favourite airline” over the years.
As British Airways looks forward to another decade of first-class customer service, said Paul Dhami, Country Manager, British Airways Ghana, “huge advances in technology in the past ten years have allowed us to offer customers a faster, more efficient and more comfortable travelling experience than ever before.
“Our challenge going forward is to harness these technological advances to refine and improve on this service; potential developments in the world of mobile applications are just one area we are very excited about.
“Managing our environmental impact is, of course, vitally important and the next few years will see British Airways launching more fuel-efficient aircraft, using more sustainable materials and exploring new operating methods - ensuring that our commitment to combatting climate change is at the forefront of everything we do.”
He said: “We currently have a small sales office at the airport, mainly to handle basic customer issues such as enquiries, ticket reissues and change of dates.”
Mr. Dhami however pointed out that the airline still has over 100 sales outlets in Ghana, considering the ba.com website as well as a network of travel agents across the country.
In February 28.28 percent of Ghanaian passengers checked in online and the service continues to gain popularity as Internet penetration increases around the country.
The website allows customers to book flights, manage their booking, and much more. In 2009, the website introduced a dynamic packaging facility, enabling customers to book hotels, car hire, local sightseeing tours, attractions and tickets to create the entire travel experience from one website.
Since 2008, the airline has extended its remote check-in facility to allow customers to check-in via mobile phones with wireless connectivity. The free facility is also available in 11 languages, without any need to download accompanying software.
In 2007, British Airways also launched a payment system in collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank, enabling customers to pay for their online bookings at any of the Bank’s branches. Over 24% of passengers buy their tickets through this means, causing the airline to reduce its sales offices in the country.
British Airways also launched its new online boarding pass in 2004, allowing passengers to print their own boarding passes from home. Today it is available on over 95% of British Airways routes, and more that 70% of BA passengers travelling from Heathrow check-in online or print their own boarding pass from ba.com.
From 2000, British Airways enabled its passengers to check-in their flights online on the website. This facility is now available on over 97% of British Airways’ routes and is used by over 25,000 customers daily, significantly reducing the time needed and stress encountered at the airport. Cited as the innovation of the decade in a recent survey by the Business and Travel Meetings Show, online check-in enables customers to arrive at the airport ready to travel - simply needing to drop luggage and proceed to security.
The airline’s website, which was launched in 1995, has evolved to become a one-stop shop for British Airways customers, giving them greater control over their travel plans.
The site currently has an average 2.5 million people visiting each week and is available in 11 major languages including French, German, Spanish, Hungarian and Chinese. Ba.com was voted, “Best Airline Website” at the 2008 Travolution Awards.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment