SITA has stated that with the rise of social networking over the Internet the days of the simple online flight-booking engine are numbered.

Published: 24 Feb 2009

SITA has stated that with the rise of social networking over the Internet the days of the simple online flight-booking engine are numbered.

“Web 2.0 technologies will transform airline websites into travel planning portals that go far beyond date and location. By making it faster, easier and more cost-effective to provide real-time content from diverse sources, Web 2.0 technologies meet travellers’ demands for greater information and personalisation,” said Jim Peters, CTO, SITA, as the company marked its 60th anniversary with a look at how technology will change the face of air travel over the next five years.

“In the near future when a customer makes a booking, the airline website could extract the passenger’s preferences from its frequent flyer programme, combine it with external content from travel web sites so that hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions can be overlaid on a Google map and the traveller can then take a virtual sight-seeing tour and be linked in with friends’ travel plans.”

SITA forecasts that mobile devices are about to have the same impact on the passenger journey as the jet engine did 50 years ago.

“Mobile phones are fast becoming access points to online services and over 90% of passengers carry them. Digitally-equipped passengers will access all their travel needs while on the move including purchasing airline tickets and checking-in. Mobile boarding passes could save the industry $500 million as we move towards paperless travel,” said Peters.

Ends