E-ticketing adoption on a steady rate
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Air China is the latest Asian carrier to activate e-ticketing via Galileo system.
This development represents the latest in long lists of Asian carriers that have chosen to implement e-ticketing to demonstrate the Asian travel industry’s systematic move to achieving IATA’s goal for all airlines to offer e-tickets by the end of May 2008.
At the 2004 IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM), the industry body resolved to implement 100% e-ticketing by the end of 2007.
However, based on the current Bank Settlement Plan status and project pace last month, IATA foresees only 92% e-ticketing will be achieved by end of 2007.
Therefore, during the AGM meeting last month on 4 June 2007, IATA announced a five month, one-time extension to 31 May 2008 to assist airlines that are behind schedule due to circumstances such as late starts, regional differences, system enhancements and regulatory limitations (eg. Russsia).
Since the initiative has gained momentum, the travel industry has seen significant cost savings and efficiency improvements and environment benefits.
By simplifying the process reports say that the airline industry will save at least US$3 billion per year.
According to Galileo, the direct result of e-ticketing, where three out of every four tickets issued with Galileo are now electronic, Galileo is saving a minimum of 14 acres of forest per month.
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