Paper tickets officially banished

Full electronic e-ticketing for flights around the world has come into force.

As of June 1st, airlines will no longer primarily issue paper tickets as part of an initiative by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to roll out e-ticketing across the globe.

Paper tickets were first used during the 1920s, with the first e-ticket being issued in 1994. However, take-up of the electronic version was slow, with less than a fifth of tickets worldwide being paperless as of May 2004.

Now the IATA's work has resulted in all airlines looking to deliver 100 per cent e-ticketing, allowing passengers to benefit from being able to easily change tickets and take advantage of quicker check-in options via online and mobile platforms - as well as making it impossible to lose a ticket, according to the organisation.

"We are moving ahead with a further revolution - fast travel that will provide convenient self-service options from check-in to baggage tracing and rebooking," remarked Giovanni Bisignani, director-general and chief executive of the IATA.

"An era has ended. If you have a paper ticket, it's time to donate it to a museum," he added.

Those with IATA neutral paper tickets sold by a travel agent before June 1st can still use these. Airlines may also choose to continue to sell paper tickets, although the IATA said it expects these carriers to be in the minority.

Just The Flight chief executive Brian Kelly says: "100 per cent e-ticketing is a huge step forward for the travel industry and will have significant benefits for airlines and travel agents, as well as the travelling public.

"We [Just The Flight] have been ready for this change for years and expect a smooth transition over the next few days and weeks."

Last year, an IATA survey revealed that passengers are increasingly getting to grips with the use of technology in air travel.

Its poll showed that 89 per cent of travellers prefer e-tickets to their paper counterparts, while 56 per cent had previously used web check-in services and 69 per cent had made use of a self-service kiosk to speed up check-in times.

• Skyteam passengers offered Wi-Fi access at London Heathrow
• Virgin Atlantic orders new Airbus planes
• Qantas extends online check-in
• World's first Lonely Planet store to open in Sydney
• British Airways launches new long-haul plane
• US Airways offering complimentary Wi-Fi
• Free audio books launched by oneworld
• Oneworld brings travel stations to New York, Stockholm
• New inflight entertainment offering from Virgin Atlantic
• Qantas' A380 seat wins award