The SkyTeam alliance is aiming for e-ticketing among its nine members by the end of the year.
Leo van Wijk, chief executive of KLM, made the announcement at a press conference in Amsterdam after a meeting of the Alliance's governing board.
He said the airline would offer complete interlining in line with the aim of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to have paperless travel in the industry.
IATA wants 40% paperless travel by the end of this year and 100% by 2007.
Gerry Grinstein, ceo of Delta, described the move to e-ticketing as a “priority.”
Mr van Wijk said SkyTeam's next aim, also an IATA goal, would be to make its members' self service check-in machines available for all Alliance flights.
He said the governing board had also discussed co-location in airports. SkyTeam, which celebrates it fifth anniversary this month, currently had co-location at 20 airports worldwide but planned to extend it to 50.
This would include Tokyo Narita and London Heathrow where its objective is to move into Terminal Four after BA moves out to the airport's new Terminal Five in 2008.
Mr van Wijk said the re-structuring at Heathrow was a “unique opportunity which we will not miss out on.” He hoped discussion could be finalised “sooner rather than later.”
The Board also announced that under its associate programme, launched in 2003, four airlines would be joining the Alliance: Air Europa of Spain, Copa Airlines of Panama, Kenya Airways and Tarom of Romania.
Mr van Wijk said the associate programme would broaden the Alliance's presence in strategic regions and more associate members would be announced soon.
He also confirmed that Russian carrier Aeroflot and China Southern Airlines would be joining as full members in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
* The rival Star Alliance said it was also planning to offer e-tickets for all flights by member airlines by the end of 2005. The Lufthansa etix service is currently available for seven Star members, having been extended to include bmi and LOT this week.