Toronto (ECN) - After launching in August an iPhone application, Air Canada announced today a similar tool developed by IBM Canada for BlackBerry users. The company claims to pre-empt all of its North American competitors in the market for mobile options.
As owners of iPhone, travelers who have a BlackBerry can now retrieve their card boarding or electronic information on their flights in real time directly on their mobile.
The new application can be downloaded free on the site or on the BlackBerry mobile platform that Air Canada has also been redesigned for the occasion. The mobile application is also available for other smartphones. Among the carrier's customers who have this type of device, 78% own a BlackBerry, 17% have an iPhone and 5% have another brand of camera. However, only 1% of Air Canada's passenger register via their mobile.
30% of travelers register online
Registration online via computer is more popular, a little over 30% of passengers use this service which should enable them to save time at the airport.
According to assessments made in Toronto by Air Canada, a traveler who registers online and use the luggage storage at the airport earns on average just over half an hour compared to those who follow the conventional procedure. In Montreal, however, the service is not yet fully operational, hence the waiting time still high for luggage storage. The system should be fully functional by early 2010.
If mobile applications and online registration allows Air Canada to save money through fewer staff available to the public in airports, there is no hope of lower prices of airline tickets. This was stressed by the spokesman of the company in a press conference.
