One More Thing You Won’t Worry About Forgetting

How many times have you been driving to the airport and you do that automatic check your pockets reaction? Do I have my passport? My airline tickets? Enough cash? Well very soon, you won’t ever have to worry about that second item because there will not be any more paper tickets.

IATA, the organization that is in charge of air travel has had a goal for 2008 of eliminating paper airline tickets and passed a milestone last week–they will no longer order the printing of
tickets for passengers.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it had placed its last order for paper tickets, which it issues for 60,000 travel agents when they book flights for customers. From June 1, 2008, all tickets will be delivered electronically.

“This is ‘last call’ for paper tickets,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO. “E-ticketing went from 16 per cent in June 2004 to 84 per cent today. And in just 277 more days the paper ticket will become a collector’s item.”

IATA currently issues more than 400 million tickets every year. The move to electronic tickets will save the industry $3 billion and save the equivalent of 50,000 mature trees each year.
Giovanni Bisignani said: “We are changing an industry with tangible benefits for travellers, agents, airlines and the environment. Consumers enjoy the convenience and flexibility of paperless travel. Agents have the opportunity to broaden the scope of their business and serve their customers remotely.”