MAT Macedonian Modernizes with AirKiosk System

November 5, 2007

			Home page of the new MAT Macedonian Airlines website powered by AirKiosk systems.

NATIONAL CARRIER LAUNCHES INTERNET RESERVATIONS

MAT Macedonian Airlines joins the world of travel e-commerce today with the introduction of direct online reservations. The AirKiosk Web Booking solution for MAT Macedonian Airlines features the popular AirKiosk Low Fare Finder, an instant calendar-based view of realtime fares availability. MAT Macedonian Airlines customers can now book and pay for their selected flights, change their bookings, and view and print their travel details through the airline’s website.

Like most national carriers, MAT Macedonian Airlines established and grew its business using legacy systems and GDS travel agency distribution. But with increasing demand from customers who want to book and manage their own travel, the airline needed a modern solution for direct sales and self-service.

“Europe is getting smaller, and airlines in regions traditionally denied access to modern reservations solutions are finding it more difficult to compete for travelers who prefer shopping and buying tickets online. MAT Macedonian Airlines’ management recognized there are dramatic savings in direct selling, savings they can pass on to their customers,” said Novak Niketic, president of AirKiosk System provider Sutra, Inc. “Going the route of GDS-based travel sites such as Opodo, Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia, was too expensive, cumbersome and did not offer the same service levels MAT Macedonian Airlines can provide directly to their valued frequent passengers.”

MAT Macedonian Airlines’ AirKiosk system-powered website is the first implementation of a new AirKiosk ASP service option which allows airlines to introduce Internet sales quickly and with minimum effort while still hosting on a legacy system platform. Flights from Skopje and Ohrid to Istanbul and Vienna are currently offered on the airline’s website.

“This is a great first step for a carrier unable to migrate in one step to a modern system,” Niketic said.

The AirKiosk system has provided airlines with an ahead-of-the-art reservations, distribution, revenue and passenger management solution at low cost since 1999.

MAT Macedonian Airlines is the national flag carrier of the Republic of Macedonia, operating 25,000 flights for more than 3.5 million passengers since its establishment.

Sources:

Sutra, Inc.
MAT Macedonian Airlines