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Published on August 28, 2007

The association ordered 16.5 million paper tickets from seven specialised printers to supply about 60,000 accredited IATA travel agents in 162 markets around the world. From next June 1, all airline tickets issued through the IATA's Billing and Settlement Plan will be electronic.

"This is the last call for paper tickets," said director-general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani. "It has been 38 months since we launched the drive for 100-per-cent e-ticketing, as part of IATA's 'Simplifying the Business' initiative. E-ticketing has risen from 16 per cent in June 2004 to 84 per cent today, and in just 278 more days the paper airline ticket will become a collector's item."

The IATA's settlement systems issue more than 400 million tickets a year.

The final order of 16.5 million paper tickets takes into account current stocks and estimated demand.

"We're changing an industry with tangible benefits for travellers, agents, airlines and the environment," Bisignani said. Consumers will enjoy the convenience and flexibility of paperless travel, while agents will have the opportunity to broaden the scope of their businesses by serving customers remotely.

Every e-ticket saves about US$9 (Bt309) in the additional cost of paper tickets, adding up to $3 billion in annual savings for the industry. Eliminating paper will save the equivalent of 50,000 mature trees each year.

The Nation