GDS provider Amadeus has introduced an e-ticketing solution that enables airlines to issue e-tickets in non-Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) markets.
There are approximately 40 countries without a BSP, including Iran, Libya, Palestine, Sudan, Algeria, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, preventing a number of airlines from implementing e-ticketing on a worldwide basis.
Amadeus Electronic Ticketing Direct, part of Amadeus’ electronic ticketing portfolio, will allow airlines operating in these countries to sell and receive payment for e-tickets via the Amadeus system, and thereby enable them to meet the extended IATA ‘Simplifying the Business’ deadline at the end of May 2008.
The new solution will make it possible for airlines to also sell through select non-IATA travel agents, widening their distribution and capturing greater revenue.
“Even though IATA has extended the e-ticketing deadline until the end of May 2008, it is still very much in everyone’s interest to continue striving to meet this goal as early as possible. Global e-ticket penetration is now pushing 80%, but there still remain a few barriers to complete adoption,” said Frédéric Spagnou, vice-president, Airline Business Group, Amadeus. “As IATA’s preferred e-ticketing partner, we are committed to helping the industry overcome these.”
The news will be welcomed by airlines across the region that were already counting the extra costs of issuing tickets in non-BSP markets, particularly as nine of the 40 are located in the Middle East.
IATA had asked airlines to “make their own arrangements with travel agents in countries where there is no BSP or ARC operation”.
“Airlines must decide whether to continue to distribute their own paper stock to their agents or else ask them to move to electronic ticketing. There is no requirement on a BSP/ARC being present before airlines can issue ET in this way,” said Bryan Wilson, project director, ET, IATA. “However, airlines who are based in countries without a BSP do still need to implement ET if they wish to use BSPs in other countries. Hence both Syrian Arab and Iran Air have implemented ET in BSPs.”
To date, Amadeus has forged agreements with 65 airlines to host their complete e-ticketing activities and has built the IT links to enable 394 interline agreements between airlines.
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