Are local airlines ready for e-ticketing deadline?

There are only two days left for the deadline set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for airlines and travel agents to become 100% e-ticket compliant. But there is still no clear picture on whether the Indian air travel industry would be able to meet international body's directive.
There are conflicting views emerging from various quarters.
While Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) vice-president Rajji Rai is doubtful about the capability of some Indian airlines (read Air India and Indian) to go off-paper by June 1, Amadeus Systems (an e-ticketing service provider) managing director Ankur Bhatia is confident that all Indian carriers will become paperless before the IATA deadline expires.
"All airlines are not yet ready for 100% e-ticketing. We are only asking the IATA to extend the deadline so that travel agents, airlines and passengers are not put to inconvenience," claims Rai.
Rai says once 100% e-ticketing is enforced, the problem would arise when an interline (where travel involves two carriers) journey ticket has to be issued.
"In that case, if there is no interline agreement between two carriers, the process of issuing a ticket could be delayed by 2-3 days if airlines have not adhered to the IATA dictate," Rajji points out.
However, IATA is firm on its deadline and does not expect many problems in it being met. It adds that in India, the e-ticket penetration was at 95% in April.
30/05/08 Praveena Sharma/DNA MONEY/Sify

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General May 2008