IN response to market volatility airlines have been ramping up their digital booking offerings over the last few years, reports London's air Cargo News.
A survey carried out by booking portal Freightos found that 46 per cent of air cargo carriers now enable instant rate searches for quotes on their websites compared with 10 per cent in 2019.
Meanwhile, 33 per cent offer e-booking with instant confirmation compared to 25 per cent in 2019.
But there is still room for development, with 21 per cent offering instant allotment booking and 4 per cent allowing payments to be made online.
Freightos said that the most widespread digital stride among air carriers was the leveraging of third-party platforms to extend their online reach.
The research shows that 46 per cent of leading air carriers provide instant rate search through third-party platforms and 42 per cent also enable e-booking through these channels.
Shipment tracking is also widely available, with 42 per cent providing this as an option.
Freightos said the adoption of third-party platforms was higher in air than ocean, where just 18 per cent offer e-booking on portals.
'In the fragmented air market - compared to the consolidated ocean market and the growing leverage the pandemic has shifted to ocean carriers - airlines are eager for the low-touch access to new customers, new segments and new geographies that platforms represent, even at the cost of making price and service comparisons easier,' Freightos said.
'And the volatility of air cargo during the last two years served as a catalyst for this trend.' The overall shift to digital booking was accelerated by the pandemic, the company said.
SeaNews Turkey
A survey carried out by booking portal Freightos found that 46 per cent of air cargo carriers now enable instant rate searches for quotes on their websites compared with 10 per cent in 2019.
Meanwhile, 33 per cent offer e-booking with instant confirmation compared to 25 per cent in 2019.
But there is still room for development, with 21 per cent offering instant allotment booking and 4 per cent allowing payments to be made online.
Freightos said that the most widespread digital stride among air carriers was the leveraging of third-party platforms to extend their online reach.
The research shows that 46 per cent of leading air carriers provide instant rate search through third-party platforms and 42 per cent also enable e-booking through these channels.
Shipment tracking is also widely available, with 42 per cent providing this as an option.
Freightos said the adoption of third-party platforms was higher in air than ocean, where just 18 per cent offer e-booking on portals.
'In the fragmented air market - compared to the consolidated ocean market and the growing leverage the pandemic has shifted to ocean carriers - airlines are eager for the low-touch access to new customers, new segments and new geographies that platforms represent, even at the cost of making price and service comparisons easier,' Freightos said.
'And the volatility of air cargo during the last two years served as a catalyst for this trend.' The overall shift to digital booking was accelerated by the pandemic, the company said.
SeaNews Turkey