End of an era as paper airline tickets dropped from June 1

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — The paper airline ticket comes to the end of its life on Sunday when 240 carriers belonging to the world association IATA switch to all electronic ticketing, much of it through Internet booking.

IATA members account for 94 percent of world airline traffic and by the end of February, 94 percent of them had already abandoned the rectangle of stiff paper in favour of digital technology.

In Africa, 87 percent of IATA airlines had made the switch.

The last paper tickets will be sold on Saturday, and the International Air Transport Association estimates that its member airlines will save three billion dollars (1.9 billion euros) a year, a much needed economy in the face of a huge rise in fuel costs.

"From June 1, no travel agent will be able...