PIA adopts modern, swift online booking system

Seeks cooperation from passengers if problems arise during transformation

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has shifted to a new airline management, sales and revenue system called the Hitit computer system produced by a Turkish company.

For 20 years, PIA had been using the Sabre global distribution system of Sabre Corporation, headquartered in Texas, the United States.



PIA inked the agreement with Hitit on April 18, 2018. Services including reservations, inventory control, ticketing and check-in procedures, flight operations, scheduling, revenue management, accounting and crew management would now use the new solutions, said PIA spokesman Mashhood Tajwar.

“The new IT solutions partner will bring modernisation and convenience to our customers,” said PIA Chairman and CEO Muhammad Saqib Aziz in a statement on Wednesday.

PIA management says the new IT system is a significant improvement in the website functions, making online booking swift and very convenient for the public.

Hitherto, the national carrier has only 5-6% online bookings. Market sources say the previous system was not serving the airline’s needs well and reported small bugs after every short period.

PIA CEO said every possible effort had been made to make the transformation glitch-free. He instructed the airline’s team to remain available round the clock for a smooth and swift transfer in all relevant areas of the airline.

“IT and commercial departments should be commended for their efforts to make this transformation possible,” he said, adding the transformation from the previous module was done in the shortest time period and training sessions were held for PIA officials and its partner travel agencies.



With the new IT solution, PIA and its travel partners will be able to work more efficiently. The new IT solution is not only cost-effective, but also offers additional value, which will greatly help PIA in its business activities.

PIA has, however, requested cooperation from its passengers in case of any problems or inconvenience during and after the transformation for a few days and has asked them to contact PIA’s call centre for this purpose.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2018.

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