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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