China World Trade Corporation has shared that 75 percent of its air-ticket sales has been achieved through electronic air-ticketing. (8/15/2006)

The company's subsidiary Guangdong New Generation Commercial Management Limited (NG) will cautiously prepare for the complete implementation of electronic air-ticketing by 2007 all over China.

According to a release, figures showed that the e-ticket sales revenue nationwide in 2005 was US$530 million, which is five times to US$120 million as recorded in 2003. It is also estimated that the e-ticket sales revenue will be reaching over US$630 million in 2006.

We hold a positive but cautious view to e-ticketing in China, convinced by the promising growth rate of the sales all over the country. Seventy five percent of our air-ticket sales through NG are now in fact e-tickets, said William Tsang, President of CWTD,

Given the lack of a comprehensive electronic payment in China, however, most consumer are actually paying cash off-the-line. Despite that real e-ticketing purchased online is still a dream to come true, we will keep track of the technology development and stay in touch with the latest trend in the ticketing area, said Tsang.

As of February 23 this year, an average of 40 percent of air-ticket sales in Chinese IATA BSP travel agencies has been achieved through e-ticketing. Big Chinese cities like Beijing, Chengdu, Haikou have recorded an even higher proportion of 55 percent or above.

Its been shared that almost all China domestic airlines have joined the E-ticketing BSP system, such as China International Airlines (Beijing), China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai), Shanghai Airlines (Shanghai) and Hainan Airlines (Haikou).

By such arrangement, it is estimated that China may even complete the switch to E-ticketing as early as the end of 2006.