Etihad Airways is on course to meet the 1 June deadline set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for paper tickets to be scrapped.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline currently offers e-ticketing - the electronic document that replaces conventional tickets - on 93% of its network, and the three remaining destinations of Peshawar, Tehran and Khartoum, will meet the IATA deadline.
IATA began the drive to 100% e-ticketing as part of its ”simplifying the business” programme in June 2004 to make travel more convenient and cost efficient, and Etihad began its implementation in July two years later.
”There are many benefits with e-ticketing both in terms of security of the document, information contained within it, and the impact on the environment by not printing paper tickets,” said Etihad executive vice president marketing and product, Peter Baumgartner. ”Etihad has fully embraced the introduction and implementation of e-ticketing and we are very proud that the airline will comfortably meet the IATA deadline.”
The new e-ticket system is seen as more convenient to air travellers as it is easier to make late changes to bookings. These can also be made over the phone, removing the need for flyers to visit an airline sales office. When checking in for a flight, customers simply need to present their passport and e-ticket number- the relevant boarding passes are then issued, and luggage checked in.
In addition, Etihad has agreements with 45 international carriers allowing passengers to book and fly with partner airlines using a single e-ticket ” these include American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways.