Airlines reach 49 per cent e-ticketing in Q1 06

Hong Kong, May 16 (UNI) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today announced that global Electronic Ticketing (ET) penetration in its billing settlement plans (BSPs) rose by 10.4 per cent points during the first quarter and by 20 per cent points year over year to 49 per cent.

A total of 142 airlines are now issuing electronic tickets in IATA BSPs while a further 208 airlines use BSPs to issue only paper tickets. IATA released the results at its industry Simplifying the Business conference being held here.

Compared to the same period last year, Europe led all regions with a 25 per cent point increase in ET penetration followed by North Asia (22 per cent), Africa (20 per cent), Asia Pacific (16 per cent), America (12 per cent) and Middle East North Africa (6 per cent).

The global ET penetration stood at 49 per cent at the end of March this year, while Asia Pacific region scored 42 per cent.

In north Asia, 11 of 24 airlines based in the region that use IATA's BSP have issued electronic tickets. Most gains have been made since IATA began coordinating efforts with Chinese airlines, GDS provider Travelsky and the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) in March 2005.

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