For further information on how to get involved please contact standards@iata.org.
How are Passenger Standards developed?
Industry standards simplify common processes and reduce cost and complexity. They allow airlines to work seamlessly with each other and with other stakeholders such as travel agents, airports, and governments. Standards reduce cost, encourage innovation and provide a better experience for passengers.
Passenger standards are developed and adopted under the IATA Traffic Conferences, where all Members can participate and vote. Resolutions adopted by Conferences act as an agreement between all IATA member airlines and are binding on them. The Passenger Standards brochure (pdf) outlines the Conference structure as well as standards adoption and development procedures.
The Passenger Standards Conference
From 1 November 2018, the activities of the Passenger Services Conference and the Passenger Tariff Conference were combined into a single structure, the Passenger Standards Conference, which fulfils the function of both. This Conference is responsible for a large body of today’s passenger services standards including passenger and baggage handling, documentation, procedures, rules and regulations, reservations, ticketing, schedules, distribution, payment and automation standards; as well as fare construction rules and pricing automation together with more general standards such as coding and scheduling. The Passenger Standards Conference is governed by Resolution 009.
The Passenger Standards Conference consists of:
- The actual Conference where all members take action in the form of a vote to adopt standards. The Conference meets annually and votes to adopt standards on a quarterly basis. All IATA Members with scheduled passenger traffic can be members of the Conference and can accredit their voting representatives.
- Management Boards: The Boards have oversight across the strategy and direction of standards within their domain. They ensure that standard setting activities are prioritized based on airline requirements, explore new areas where industry standards could add value and propose areas where industry standards should be discontinued. Each Management Board is made up of 18 airlines representing the Conference. All interested IATA Member can actively participate in Board activities.
- Working Groups under each Board: The Boards may create working groups to develop standards in specific areas. All interested IATA Members can actively participate in all working groups. groups may also invite observers such as Strategic Partners to assist.
- PSC Steering Group: Steering group manages the activities of the Conference in between Conference meetings. It consists of elected Chair and Vice Chair of the Conference and elected Chairs and Vice Chairs of all Management Boards.
The Conference and Accredited Representatives
Every airline participating in the Conference is represented by its Accredited Representative, who is authorized by the airline’s CEO to vote on behalf of airline. Since Resolutions are binding on IATA member airlines; adopting, changing or rescinding a resolution requires unanimous support from all airlines participating in the Conference. The Accredited Representative should be a senior decision maker able to liaise internally on a wide range of issues.
Accredited representatives also act as a focal point for the airline’s participation in all Conference activities including Management Boards and Working Groups. They ensure alignment across the airline on strategic issues touching passenger standards.
Airlines may accredit separate representatives for the Passenger Services Conference and Passenger Tariffs Conference. For voting items relating to Resolutions 011 – 312, only individuals accredited as their airline's PTC representative (or their alternate) may exercise their airline's vote at the Passenger Standards Conference. For all other voting items, only individuals accredited as their airline's PSC representative (or their alternate) may exercise their airline's vote at the Passenger Standards Conference.
The Conference has ultimate decision-making authority over all standard setting activity within its scope. Every member airline is able to attend and vote. The Conference adopts or changes Resolutions and Reccomended Practises, and elects the Board Members to oversee the standards across each business domain. The activity of the Conference is managed between meetings by a Steering Group which is made up of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Conference together with the Chair and Vice-Chair of each Management Board.
Please see the list of Airline representatives (pdf). Changes and applications for Airline representatives may be made using the Accredited Representative Application form, or contacting standards@iata.org
The Management Boards and Working Groups
The Conference is organized in the following Management Boards:
- Plan Standards Board
- Shop-Order-Pay Standards Board
- Travel Standards Board
- Settlement and Accounting Standards Board
- Architecture and Technology Strategy Board
Scope and membership of each Board and full details of working groups active under each Board as well as rules for participation are shown on individual Board’s pages.
Where are Standards Published?
All IATA standards are developed by airlines and industry stakeholders, and adopted through a transparent and established governance process, make sure that your airline always has access to the latest version of all standards. Adopted standards are published in Passenger Services Conference Manual (Resolutions 200 - 798, Industry Standard 2725i, and Recommended Practices 1008 - 1800) and Passenger Tariffs Conference Composite Manual (Resolutions 011-312).
Please contact standards@iata.org if you need further information.