Mainland airline e-ticketing takes off
China Southern was the first mainland airline to sell an e-ticket and is still the only one to offer e-ticketing through a secured Web site.
In the first month after its launch in February last year, the site made 100,000 yuan (about HK$97,300). Last month, the airline reported US$3.6 million made from e-tickets since its launch. It forecasts about US$24.1 million in e-ticket sales for the fourth quarter of this year.
China Southern officials said more than 160 new agents had signed e-ticket sales contracts. The tickets are booked, paid for and dispensed through the airline's CZ system. CZ kiosks are installed at agents' offices.
The system even allows corporate clients to book tickets at short notice - up to three hours before flight time.
The airline has e-ticket airport check-in counters in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Wuhan. The e-ticket management procedure is approved by Beijing authorities.
China Southern flies to more than 80 cities around the globe, including Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan, as well as Amsterdam, Bangkok, Fukuoka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Osaka, Penang, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Singapore and Sydney.
