Amadeus has implemented e-ticketing for over 100 airlines serving the UK.  Amadeus customers in the UK are already issuing 80% of all tickets as electronic tickets and this latest announcement brings Amadeus users closer to meeting IATA’s goal, which states that all airline tickets should be issued as e-tickets by the end of 2007.

Amadeus is the world leader in e-ticket documentation having enabled e-ticketing for 182 airlines and 140 countries, far ahead of any of its competitors.  The latest airlines available for e-ticketing in the UK include Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways and Scot Airways.  Amadeus also offers over 400 interline agreements.

Elaine Seeto, Director of Marketing Amadeus UK & Ireland said: “E-ticketing has become the norm for many of travellers today. Gone are the days of lost tickets resulting in flustered passengers at the airport. In conjunction with Amadeus e-ticketing technology, many airlines now offer the convenience of online or kiosk check-in, greatly improving the airport experience.  At the same time, the old adage “out of sight, out of mind” means around 2% of e-tickets remain unused, even though the tickets are refundable. So Amadeus developed its Unused E-Ticket Tracking Report to help travel agents pro-actively assist customers - particularly regular business travellers - to manage costs. E-tickets are also a good example of how modern travel technology can help agents do their bit for the environment by reducing paper and printer usage.”

Richard Munday, Operations Director of Cambridge Business Travel, commented: “Amadeus has forged ahead with implementing scores of new e-ticketing carriers, which means we are able to offer an efficient e-ticketing service designed to streamline our clients’ travel experiences. Together with 24/7 online itinerary access through Amadeus CheckMyTrip and the automated searches of the Amadeus Unused e-Ticket Tracking Report, we are able to offer business travellers a range of benefits associated with the convenience of paperless travel.”

The 2006 Airline IT Trends Survey, conducted for the eighth year by SITA together with Airline Business magazine, suggested that the percentage of airlines issuing e-tickets has also doubled in the last year to 59 per cent, and this is expected to rise further to almost 80 per cent by the end of 2007.

Amadeus’ rate of implementation of e-ticketing for airlines is predicted to get faster as the year progresses.  The company is an IATA preferred supplier for achieving paperless travel by 2007, and is well on track to complete its part in achieving this key milestone for the industry.

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