Airline industry steps up fight against payment fraud
Airline body IATA is cracking down on payment fraud against airlines and travel agents.
IATA says fraud costs the industry around $858 million a year.
While the majority (around $639 million) is borne by airlines, the rest is borne by others in the chain, including travel agents.
In partnership with Ypsilon Net, IATA is now offering its fraud detection system, IATA Argus, to airlines and travel agents.
"IATA is committed to helping the industry fight fraud," said Aleks Popovich, IATA’s senior vice president financial and distribution services.
The system can access global distribution systems and can detect suspicious transactions as early as the booking request stage.
It then flags them up or can even cancel them as appropriate.
It can also notify the agent or airline of a suspicious booking, and automatically take action to void, suspend or cancel a ticket.
"You cannot segregate fraud occurring on airline direct channels from fraud generated through travel agency or online travel agency channels," said Hans-Joachim Klenz, CEO of Ypsilon Net.
"IATA Argus combines ease of implementation and cost efficiency in a system that protects all channels effectively and provides full automation."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season