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IATA e-services
Definition
- The IATA e-services project will remove paper miscellaneous documents from airline distribution systems, according to a global IATA electronic miscellaneous document (EMD) standard
- An Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD) tracks the sale of charges for additional services, like excess baggage or lounge access, in an electronic record
- The EMD replaces all paper miscellaneous documents and excess baggage tickets with one standard electronic document type
Target
- A total of 40 EMD capable airlines and six live GDSs in IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) by end 2011
- 100% industry capability by end 2012
- 100% usage in IATA BSPs, by end 2013
- The target for next year will focus on EMD capable airlines representing 75% of passenger volumes
Benefits
- Customer:
- EMD enables more services to be offered to passengers, such as airport transfers, wifi 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 through both agents and airlines
- Just like e-ticketing made ticket changes easier, EMD will make changes to these services easier
- Airline:
- Less processing time, more accuracy and faster revenue collection
- Opportunities to sell optional services such as lounge access and in-flight services through new distribution channels
- 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
Status
- Project approved by the board on December 4, 2009. Efforts are now underway
- 38 EMD capable airlines
- 4 EMD live GDSs
Cost Savings
- EMD represents a savings opportunity of up to $2.9 billion
Updated: December 2011
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