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THE BEST: A file picture of Mumbai airport. The survey revealed that Mumbai leads the way when it comes to using Web check-in facility

The first-ever global survey studying use of passenger self-service initiatives at major international airports, including Mumbai, has revealed that 61.7 per cent of air tickets from the city are bought online the second highest in the world.

"Passengers using Mumbai airport are very tech-savvy. Unlike several major international airports, the Web is widely used here to buy tickets and obtain boarding passes," said Maneesh Jaikris-hna, the country head for airport solution provider SITA.

The survey, which covered 2,143 passengers from over 60 countries flying with over 100 airlines, also revealed that Mumbai leads the way when it comes to passengers using the web check-in facility with a score of 19.3 per cent, as compared to Atlanta's 18 per cent.

The figures say

"Only 19.7 per cent of respondents in Mumbai had never used online booking," said Jaikrishna. He pointed out that Mumbai's air travellers preferred the Web route despite lack of Internet access in several cases. "While 20 per cent [of those who used the Web for air travel] had no Internet access, 28 per cent said they did not have a credit card," he revealed.

Ease of use and time saved were the main reasons cited for online booking by most. "For passengers in Mumbai, price, flight schedule, airline reputation and ability to book online were the four main considerations when making travel arrangements," said Jaikrishna.

However, he added, "Thirty per cent of the passengers surveyed here later found out that it was cheaper to book tickets off-line."

Findings of the survey also revealed that the biggest obstacle to the adoption of self-service check-in, according to Mumbai passengers, was the lack of availability of self-service kiosks.

Other international airports surveyed alongside Mumbai included Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, Charles De Gaulle in Paris, Moscow Domodedovo, Sao Paulo's Guarulhos, South Africa's Johannesburg or Tambo International Airport.