Fact Sheet: IATA e-services

Definition

• The IATA e-Services project aims to replace all paper miscellaneous documents and excess baggage tickets with the global IATA Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD) standard
• An EMD tracks the sale and the usage of additional services, such as excess baggage or lounge access, in an electronic record

Targets

• Achieve 100% EMD usage in IATA BSPs by the end of 2013

Benefits

Passengers

• EMD enables simpler billing and accounting of ancillary services being offered to passengers, such as airport transfers, Wi-Fi access, lounge access and more 
• Services offered through EMD can be used on journeys involving multiple airlines, making interline/alliance travel smoother 
• Services are available to both agents and airlines through a single standard document type
• Just as e-ticketing made ticket changes easier, EMD will make changes to these services easier

Airlines

• Less processing time, more accuracy and faster revenue collection 
• Real time access to the status of all documents and not just electronic tickets 
• Lower costs due to simplified revenue accounting and back office processing. Airlines will be able to track and attribute revenues faster and more accurately

Travel Agents

• Access to new opportunities to sell additional services
• Capability to issue and track EMDs via their own systems providing increased productivity, market intelligence, and more efficient corporate billing and control

Status (as at May 2013)

• 53 EMD capable airlines 
• 32 EMD live airlines in the IATA Billing Settlement Plan
• TOTAL: 85 airlines implemented IATA EMD standard

Updated: June 2013