United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Paper tickets to go by 2007
Airlines will stop printing tickets by the end of 2007, as part of continuing attempts to cut costs, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Speaking at the 54th Pacific Asia Travel Association conference in Macau, director general and chief executive Giovanni Bisignana said the business needed to be simplified.
Mr Bisignani said IATA was working on five core projects: 100% e-tickting by the end of 2007, bar-coded boarding passes, radio frequency identification for baggage management, common use of self-service kiosks for check-in and paperless cargo.
E-ticketing is the top priority because it would generate the most savings. Each air ticket costs nine US dollars, so eliminating paper tickets could save the industry three billion US dollars per year. It will also be more convenient for customers and give greater flexibility to travel agents.
Currently, 19% of tickets processed through IATA are ticketless and this is expected to rise to 40 per cent by the end of 2005.
Mr Bisignani said IATA would work with airlines over the next three years to help them prepare for 2007, the self-imposed deadline for scrapping all paper tickets.
Meanwhile, at the same conference PATA predicted overall growth in tourist arrivals to the 40 countries across the Asia Pacific region of 10.6 per cent per year by 2007. Every destination is expected to have positive annual growth to 2007, ranging from Pakistan at 4% to Malaysia at 21%.
Phil Davies
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
British Airways passengers endure 11-hour 'flight to nowhere'
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Gatwick braces for strike
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’