After four years of Simplifying the Business programme, all paper tickets for flights will be gone by June 1, 2008. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) have started their countdown to a 100% e-ticketing air travel.

“In 97 days the paper ticket gets put in a museum. On June 1, 2008 we will achieve 100% electronic ticketing,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO, on Monday February 25, 2008.

When IATA started its programme in 2004 only 18% of the air tickets issued around the world were e-tickets, now over 93% of tickets are electronic. Africa and Russia are the remaining problem areas where e-ticketing did not get underway as early as it did elsewhere, but IATA officials are confident that they can reach the 100% e-ticketing goal by June 1.

“E-ticketing is the flagship project of Simplifying the Business. While a paper ticket costs US$10 to process, e-ticketing reduces that cost to US$1. The industry will save over US$3 billion each year by offering the passenger a better service,” said Bisignani.