|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 18 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Emirates' online bookings in Colombo gaining momentum Online bookings for travel on Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, are growing in popularity in Sri Lanka, the award-winning carrier's Colombo office said this week. Over the past 10 months, 93 passengers out of Colombo purchased their tickets through the airline's website www.emirates.com/lk and flew more than 250 sectors on Emirates, taking advantage of the convenience and the special benefits on offer such as double Skywards Miles for members of the airline's frequent flyer program. More than 26 per cent of these online bookings were made in the first nine weeks of 2004. Revenue from online bookings in January and February this year grew by a staggering 4774 per cent growth over the first two months of 2003. "We are pleased with this trend because a great deal of time and effort goes into the website," Emirates' Area Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives Tissa Bibile said. "In time, online bookings will represent a significant segment of our revenue and we will continue to enhance the benefits to customers." Colombo is one of 18 stations on the Emirates network to have its own website, providing Sri Lankans with local as well as global information on one of the world's fastest growing airlines. The Sri Lanka website of Emirates currently receives over 140 hits per day while the Internet Booking Engine (IBE - Global) picks up more than 5900 unique page impressions per day. Visitors to the website this month will receive information on a special offer to the Dubai World Cup on March 27 and Emirates' double Skywards miles offer which ends on March 31. They also have access to a wealth of information on Emirates, the airline's frequent flyer program 'Skywards', and on Dubai, the airlines' home. A 'Book Now' icon takes visitors to the popular online booking facility on the Emirates main website, enabling them to book travel anywhere on the Emirates network, which now comprises 74 destinations in 52 countries. Passengers who book travel online may have their tickets delivered to them or pay on-line and collect the tickets at the airport. Information on special fares to off-line points can also be obtained from Emirates via e-mail. Emirates Sales Manager Colombo Devika Ellepola said: "The Emirates Sri Lanka website is a source of news and information on activities, updates and special offers specifically applicable to Sri Lanka. It has become a valuable tool to take our message to the local market." Travellers resident in Sri Lanka have had the facility to book flights with Emirates on-line, through the airline's main web-site, www.emirates.com since October 2002. The facility also allows travellers to check seat availability on all Emirates flights and provides flight information, fares for all ages (adult, child, infant) on the selected routes, and the ability to make multiple bookings on a one way, return or a multiple sector journey. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
