Chinese national flag carrier, Air China is adopting the Abacus electronic miscellaneous document technology to create a paperless ticketing environment, in another industry first for the region’s leading travel solutions provider.

The Star Alliance partner is taking the initiative with Abacus EMD outside China to combine compliance with IATA’s mandate on miscellaneous documents becoming electronic.

Other Abacus benefits of digitisation include:

• Improved tracking and attribution of ancillary sales with e-coupons.
• More transparent financial reporting of all miscellaneous documents, such as cash deposits or credit card reimbursements.
• Closer alignment with travel agent systems on related transactions.

Zhou Enyong, managing director, network and revenue, Air China, commented: “We constantly strive for increased efficiency and greater synergy with our partners and EMD is one example where this can be achieved.

“We have the scale to realise significant gains from paperless ticketing and look forward to sharing the benefits of Abacus EMD with our extended network and our customers.”

Air China joins an extensive list of global airlines that have adopted the Abacus EMD solution, contributing to IATA’s planned sunset of the legacy virtual Miscellaneous Charge Order.

Ho Hoong Mau, vice president airline distribution at Abacus, added: “We are delighted to assist China’s prestigious national carrier in moving to a fully digitised environment.

“We look forward to delivering the efficiencies of EMD as material gains for Air China.”