In the news: Amadeus launches AI flightbot for travel agents; Uber partners with AirAsia to provide convenient door-to-door transfer for travellers; Klook introduces a mobile pass for travel on Hong Kong’s airport express train; South Korea’s Eastar Jet inks distribution deal with Sabre.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: AI flightbot connects agents with travellers anytime, anywhere
Travellers can use @flightbot for queries and book/purchase air tickets. (Image credit: anyaberkut/iStock-Getty Images)
To cater to the rise in the use of mobile messaging among digital savvy travellers, Amadeus has launched an AI-powered bot, @flightbot, for travel agents to interact with end users via the LINE messaging platform 24/7 and from any place.
The bot, developed in partnership with India-based GoHero.ai, trials in Thailand where Amadeus is testing it with Thai travel agencies and their clients before rolling it out in other markets across the Asia Pacific region.
On why Thailand was chosen for the pilot Simon Akeroyd, vice president, corporate strategy and business development for Amadeus Asia Pacific, explained that the country was one of the top three in APAC with 33 million LINE users, providing “a huge opportunity” to commence the project.
The bot, designed to mimic human conversation, is a user-friendly platform. Throughout the test period it will address queries related to air travel bookings, departure city and destination, and real-time flights in either English or Thai. More capabilities will develop over time.
The AI-powered service also provides travel agents with a secure and streamlined transaction process, enabling travellers to make payment via the @flightbot chat.
“Connecting with travellers in a timely and intuitive manner is important in today’s increasingly connected and automated world,” noted Akeroyd.
“The development of @flightbot creates a marketplace for Amadeus’ connected travel agencies in Asia Pacific to interact with end users anytime, anywhere via their preferred messaging platform.”
Users on LINE can search for and befriend @flightbot via the messaging platform.
PARTNERSHIP: AirAsia teams up with Uber, now everyone can ride
Travellers can book Uber a month in advance when flying with AirAsia. (Image credit: Uber)
When you next fly with AirAsia you can request or schedule rides with Uber up to 30 days in advance to and from the airport, following the low cost carrier’s partnership with the ride share service.
The two companies will work together in the 52 cities in 16 markets across Asia Pacific and the US where AirAsia operates and the Uber app is available. They will also embark on joint marketing efforts to promote the service.
AirAsia has incorporated a “deeplink” feature that allows Uber riders to request or schedule rides when confirming, booking or checking in flights.
Brooks Entwistle, Uber chief business officer for Asia Pacific, said its partnership with AirAsia could provide a seamless travel experience for their as they could request their Uber ride to the airport and have their Uber driver waiting for them when their flight lands.
AirAsia group chief executive officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, added that Uber was the right ride partner for the airline’s ongoing quest to complement its in-flight experience with services outside the plane.
“Working with Uber allows our guests to plan their entire trip from the moment they step out of their home right until they arrive at their destination.”
TECHNOLOGY: Mobile pass for airport express train helps drive smart tourism in Hong Kong
Travellers can use the Mobile Pass to acess gates to the airport access. (Image credit: Klook)
Hong Kong-based on-destination service booking platform, Klook, has rolled out its QR-code enabled Mobile Pass for Hong Kong Airport Express.
The company said in a statement that the pass would offer travellers a more convenient way to access the airport train.
“This marks a new milestone in Klook’s efforts, supported by MTR Corporation, in making Hong Kong a smart city through technological innovation in tourism,” it added.
Using Klook mobile app, travellers to Hong Kong can now use their mobile phones to make payment for the train’s tickets and access the gates directly with the pass, skipping the queue at the counters.
The pass, which is made available for offline access on the Klook app, aims to improve the train’s operational efficiency while providing travellers with seamless, fast transfer to and from the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).
Eric Gnock Fah, president & COO of Klook, said the new pass was part of the company’s commitment to revolutionise the in-destination service sector with railways being a key pillar.
The Hong Kong Airport Express, which carried over 16 million passengers in 2016, is one of the most utilised modes of transportation for travellers departing and arriving via HKIA.
AIRLINES: Eastar Jet partners with with Sabre to expand distribution footprint globally
Eastar Jet wants to spread its wings beyond Asia. (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Eastar Jet, a low cost airline based in Seoul, South Korea has as its vision to to go beyond Asia and to strengthen its offerings in fast-growing LCC market.
The carrier has inked a global distribution partnership with technology provider Sabre, which will give it access to the Sabre Travel Marketplace from the first quarter of this year, connecting it to more than 425,000 travel agents globally.
Rakesh Narayanan, vice president of air commerce, Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific said LCCs are revolutionising the way people travel for both short and long-haul flights. “This trend is most prevalent in Northeast Asia where LCCs currently account for approximately half of the market, and are expected to overtake full service airlines for the first time in the near future.
“In Korea, the first half of 2017 saw international flight passengers who took LCCs increase by 49.1% percent, whereas flag carriers saw a 3.2%decrease within the same timeframe.”
Son Doo Sang, executive senior vice president of Eastar Jet added that almost one-third of Korean travellers fly internationally on LCCs.
“We believe this partnership will enable us to continue to fuel our growth in international markets and continue to provide value as one of the fastest growing low-cost carriers in Korea.”
Eastar Jet currently flies to 14 destinations in eight countries. Its main base is Gimpo International Airport, with a hub at Jeju International Airport.
• Featured image credit: Weedezign/iStock-GettyImages
