Facts & Figures

Fact Sheet: Electronic Ticketing (ET)

 

100% Electronic Ticketing

Definition:

  • An electronic ticket (ET) holds the information previously held on a paper ticket. It requires a database, integrated with the airline's passenger service systems, that interfaces with all partners for the real time processing of passengers by ground handlers and interline partners.

Target:

  • 40% implementation by end 2005 (achieved November 2005)
  • 70% implementation by end 2006 (achieved October 2006)
  • 100% implementation of e-ticketing worldwide by end May 2008 (achieved May 2008)

Benefits:

  • Customer:
    • Easier handling of itinerary changes especially for last minute travel decisions
    • More effective use of internet capabilities for booking travel and check-in
    • No more “lost tickets”
  • Airline:
    • 100% e-ticketing is saving the industry US$ 3 billion per year
    • Retention of interline revenue as the whole industry implements ET together
    • Continued access to IATA distribution systems
  • Travel Agents:
    • Eliminates costs of ticket printers, maintenance, and ticket distribution
    • Removes cost and liability of ticket stock control

Status:

On June 1, 2008, IATA BSPs stopped issuing paper tickets. The ET project has been closed following the successful industry transition to 100% ET.

Cost Savings:

  • US$3 billion annual savings
  • An e-ticket costs US$1 to process versus US$10 per paper ticket

 

IATA Paper Ticket

Background and History

  • IATA was instrumental in developing the first version of the passenger ticket
  • During the 1920s, each airline used a different form of the passenger ticket with no standard conditions of carriage
  • The industry recognized need for standardization of traffic documents, regulations and procedures
  • It became the main focus of the IATA Traffic Committee which developed the standard ticket for multiple trips (1930)
  • Warsaw Convention (signed in 1929 implemented in 1933) established the conditions of international air transportation documents and carrier liability
  • IATA developed a neutral paper ticket in 1972 to support the global distribution system that is prevalent today – more than 60,000 travel agents around the world
    • This is what is being eliminated by the industry
  • In 1983 IATA established the Automated Ticket and Boarding Pass (ATB)
    • It allowed information to be printed on the face of the ticket and encoded on a magnetic stripe on the back which could be easily read by computer
  • Montreal Convention of 1999 replaced the Warsaw Convention introducing the concept of unlimited liability
  • Around the same time document requirements for passenger, baggage and cargo
    • were simplified to take advantage of new information technologies
    • became basic foundation for the development and global implementation of the electronic ticket

Key Dates:

  • IATA interline manual ticket established:  circa 1930
  • Transitional automated ticket (TAT) established:  1971
  • IATA creates standard for Neutral Paper Ticket: 1972
  • IATA launches BSP Japan and Neutral Paper Ticket: 1972
  • Automated Ticket & Boarding Pass (ATB) established: 1983
  • Electronic Ticket (ET) first introduced:  1994
  • IATA global standard for electronic tickets: 1997
  • IATA Board of Governors pass resolution for 100% ET: 2004
  • 100% ET – June 1, 2008

Paper Ticket Types

  • Paper interline ticket – manual, multi-coupon, carbonized ticket
  • Transitional automated ticket – computer printed, multi-coupon, carbonised ticket
  • Automated Ticket & Boarding pass (ATB) – ticket and boarding pass, data encoded on a magnetic stripe

Printing of IATA Paper Tickets

  • Up to 25 printers used
  • Securely shipped to more than 60,000 IATA accredited travel agents 
    • in over 200 countries worldwide
  • Most paper tickets printed in one year – 285 million (2005)
  • Annual cost of printing and distribution – over $20 million/year
  • Printed in some 30 languages

Updated September 2009