AI website to remain shut for code integration

New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) Passengers planning to fly AirIndia may face some problems tomorrow as the airline''s websitewill remain shut for about 16 hours to changeover from thedouble code booking system to a single code one.

The national carrier had yesterday announced that allits flights and their tickets would now on bear the singlecode of ''AI'', instead of two codes -- ''AI'' for internationaltravel and ''IC'' for domestic.

The website would remain shut from 0100 hours to 1700hours tomorrow as part of the integration process, sourcessaid.

The national carrier will have a single code for allits domestic and international flights from Sunday.

During the integration process, passengers will not beable to get their PNR (Passenger Name Record) status and mayalso face problems in booking their tickets through theairline''s website.

An Air India official, however, said that thewebsite''s features like booking of tickets and flight statuswill be available during this period.

"But flyers would be able to get the status of theirPNR," the official said.

Air India would be operating all its domestic andinternational flights with single code (AI) from Sunday, whenthe codes of all ''IC'' coded flights would change to ''AI''.

Though the erstwhile national domestic carrier IndianAirlines (IA) was merged with erstwhile international carrierAir India (AI) in 2007, the merged Air India (AI) wasoperating its domestic and international flights with theirold flight and IATA codes.

The official said passengers can contact the airline''stoll free number 18001801407 to check their revised flightnumber and also about their PNR status.

Having two separate flight and IATA codes, postamalgamation, was the biggest hindrance for the nationalcarrier to become a STAR alliance member.

The STAR alliance members has Lufthansa, ContinentalAirlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss Air, Singapore Airlines,Air China, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, South Africa Airwaysand others having 21,000 daily departures at 1160 airports in181 countries.

"This amalgamation will be a major step in Air Indiabecoming an active partner of STAR alliance which has the mostrespected member airlines," an Air India spokesperson hadsaid.