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Qatar Airways has successfully met the airline industry’s global deadline to introduce electronic ticketing (e-ticketing) on all flights to simplify the travel process and eliminate the need for paper documents.

With the implementation of e-tickets, passengers no longer receive a physical ticket. Instead, the passenger’s ticket and travel details are stored electronically in a central database.  

Qatar Airways began the process of introducing e-tickets in 2006 with a roll out across its offices around the world. The airline was 100 per cent e-ticket compliant on all routes seven months ago, well ahead of the original December 2007 deadline set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Since then, the carrier has stepped up its interline e-ticket agreements to 114 airlines worldwide enabling passengers to travel paperless on connecting flights with other carriers.

Electronic ticketing was introduced as part of a major drive by IATA under its ‘Simplifying the Business’ initiative to ensure the entire airline industry adopts standard practices to lower costs and improve passenger service. The Geneva-based international aviation industry body insisted that all airlines become e-ticket compliant by the end of 2007, but extended the deadline to June 1 this year.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said electronic ticketing was an important industry initiative designed to simplify procedures for the travelling public, as well as the airline.

“The benefits are substantial,” he said, adding, “for passengers, it means faster check-in, easier processing through airports and eliminating the risk of losing tickets. For Qatar Airways, it eliminates the need for paper tickets and reduce costs significantly.

“We have invested heavily in our internet booking engine which, together with 100 per cent e-ticket compliance, allows our passengers to fulfill their travel paperless with a one-stop shop.

“I am delighted that we met IATA’s criteria and deadline well ahead of the original December 2007 global cut-off date without problems. Since then we have been working aggressively on implementing e-ticketing with our airline partners. This has clearly demonstrated our commitment as a company to introduce practices and procedures that would significantly benefit passengers and the airline alike.”   

Qatar Airways will continue to honour all paper tickets issued before IATA’s June 1 deadline, until the end of their validity date.

Qatar Airways currently operates a young and modern fleet of 62 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to 82 cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent, Far East and North America.

Beginning June 15, Qatar Airways launches daily flights between Doha and the southern Indian city of Kozhikode and, starting November 10, inaugurates non-stop flights from Doha to Houston.