Mobile ticketing 'good for airlines and passengers'

A telecoms research firm has predicted that the use of mobile technology to distribute tickets for flights is set to grow over the coming years as it is beneficial for both airlines and passengers.

According to Juniper Research, mobile ticketing could prove particularly useful for business passengers owing to its speed and ease of use.

The technology will also be welcome for leisure travellers, the company claimed, as it offers an extra element of reliability.

Howard Wilcox, senior analyst at Juniper Research, said: "Mobile ticketing from a user perspective offers many benefits such as speed and convenience, for example for businesspeople constantly on the move.

"Not least of these is the reduced likelihood of losing tickets – after all, most people always take their phone with them."

For airlines, Mr Wilcox said that the mobile sector represented an "additional channel" for selling their flights alongside e-ticketing.

The capacity for travellers to book their flights online has been boosted recently by the launch of sites such as Just the Flight Mobile, which also provides travel news and features for handheld devices.

• Delta Airlines launches inflight internet service
• Bmi to trial mobile communications system
• Ofcom reiterates support for cap on roaming charges
• Just the Flight Mobile wins top technology award
• Qatar Airways enables online check-in
• Lufthansa to launch mobile boarding at Heathrow
• Frommer's guides to be launched on smartphones
• Proposals to cut European mobile charges
• Air France tests mobile boarding passes
• T-Mobile turns Terminal 5 into Wi-Fi hotspot