Aer Lingus aims to generate up to 60 per cent of its sales over the Internet within the next two or three years, according to chief executive Mr Michael Foley. The airline intends to introduce its e-business programme in November for £5 million (€6.35 million). "The experience of online suggests that it [sales] can be as high as 70 or 80 per cent. We don't have that aspiration but we would look to reach 50-60 per cent within 24-36 months," Mr Foley said. While he accepted that Aer Lingus would generate cost savings by paying less commission to travel agents, he said: "This isn't a savings issue, it's a customer service issue, we have to be online."
The airline's interactive website, aerlingus.com, will allow customers to book flights online and shop around by schedule and price. It will also allow travellers to book connecting flights, access frequent flyer points and interface with the Oneworld alliance, of which Aer Lingus is the latest member.
British airports operator BAA said yesterday it was in talks with the operators of 16 airports around the globe to create an Internet-based "world airport".
The alliance should eventually mean travellers will be able to log on to a website called worldairports.com to organise their travel to and from the airport, arrange transfers, book upgrades to business lounges or order shopping.
The alliance will cover BAA's UK airports, including London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. It will also include Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Copenhagen airports in Europe, and several more airports in the US as well as Melbourne in Australia. It could extend also to Japan's Tokyo Narita.
