The introduction of an online payment system by airline Air Namibia has increased its turnover by 5% and halved ticket costs for its customers, company officials reported.

Air Namibia commercial services general manager, Xavier Masule, said “Customer behaviour has changed and most people now want to be able to book and pay for their tickets online.”

“Since we implemented online sales in 2007 it costs us about 45% less to sell our tickets, because we avoid paying agent commissions and GDS system costs,” he added.

Although the airline is aware of the security risks an online payment system presents, it says it is working closely with the country’s payment service provider, PayGate, to help improve its controls.

“PayGate is very up to date on best practices and has given us excellent advice and guidance,” said Masule.

“We have decided to close online bookings 72 hours before each flight, and to suspend any booking made using a credit card that is red flagged on PayGate’s system,” he explained.

Masule says using PayGate’s facilities has reduced fraudulent transactions from 15 a day to “one every second or third day”.

He concludes by saying that implementing an online payment service not only helped sales but enabled the airline to offer online check in as well.