Sempati to join Galileo International service soon
Sempati to join Galileo International service soon
PERTH (JP): Sempati Air, one of Indonesia's private scheduled airlines, will increase its services by installing an international computerized reservation system, enabling travel agents to book tickets through computer links.
The airline's president, Hasan M. Soedjono, told reporters that Sempati Air is negotiating with Galileo International, a worldwide travel distribution company that provides global reservation products and services, to include the air carrier's reservation system in its data base.
"This is our effort to increase services to our clients, as well as to our travel agents because providing high quality services is our main target," Hasan said during Sempati Air's travel agents gathering in Perth, Western Australia, last week.
He said airlines are currently competing to provide better services, including simple and quick procedures in ticket reservation, through a computerized system.
"Travel agents can make reservation through their computer systems rather than calling our reservations office. This way will be easier and quicker," he said, adding that the negotiation with Galileo will be finalized in the near future.
Hasan said this step should be taken although it is hard for Sempati because the airline is paying every service used by travel agents such as ticket booking or hotel reservation.
Sempati's move follows that of the national air carrier Garuda Indonesia, which started operating the Abacus Mega Computerized Reservation System of Singapore in February after acquiring two percent of its shares early last year. Garuda hoped the application of the system would boost the country's aviation and tourism industries. Garuda has set up a subsidiary to tackle Abacus' travel information packages, including information on airlines, hotels, car rentals and travel agents.
"We have to do it to show our commitment to increasing our services," Hasan said.
He explained that Sempati puts a high priority on providing the reservation facility, over the opening of new routes or adding new airplanes.
"This year we will open a Jakarta-Kaohshiung (Taiwan) route to improve our services," he said.
Sempati currently serves 25 destinations in Indonesia and five foreign cities.
Galileo International is owned by several air carriers, including Air Canada, Alitalia, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, United Airlines and USAir. The company's services cover over 500 air carriers such as Cathay Pacific, Air France, American Airlines, Delta Air lines, Garuda Indonesia and Continental Airlines. (yns)