IATA develops and maintains Common Use standards including a Resolution and Recommended Practices through the work of the Common Use Group (CUG).

The CUG deals with matters concerning:

 

  • Common Use Self Service (CUSS), the specifications and standards for multiple airlines sharing one physical self-service kiosk. (RP1706c). 
  • Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (CUPPS), the range of services, specifications and standards enacted to enable multiple airlines, service providers or other users to share physical check-in or gate podium positions whether simultaneously or consecutively. (RP1797)
  • Bar Coded Boarding Pass (BCBP), the required characteristics of the data elements and format of the Bar Code on the Boarding Pass. (RESO 792)
  • Common Use Web Services (CUWS), the standardization of data exchange supporting common use self-service bag drop and different touchpoints through the use of web services technology. (RP 1741)
  • IATA Technical Peripheral Specifications (formerly AEA) (ITPS-TSG), the maintenance of the specification that describes all exchanges of Departure Control Systems (DCS) to device communication and all device responses supporting Boarding Pass Printer (ATB), Baggage Tag Printers (BTP), Boarding Gate Readers and Self-Boarding Gates (BGR and E-Gates), SBD (Self-Baggage Drop) and SD (Scale Device)
  • Review and endorse proposals to create or amend standards governing these processes, including data exchange standards for passenger data
  • To liaise closely with other bodies, including Airports Council International (ACI) and IATA Committees impacting on Common Use Standards

How are Common Use standards created?

 

Standards endorsed by a majority vote will be presented to the Travel Standards Board for approval, before presentation to the Passenger Services Conference (PSC) for adoption as required.

Changes to data exchange standards require endorsement by the Architecture and Technology Strategy Board under the provisions of Resolution 009.

Change to any other Resolution or Recommended Practice requires endorsement by the owning group and adoption at the Conference as required.

This brochure (pdf) outlines the Conference structure as well as standards adoption and development procedures.

The Common Use Group does not restrict its number of participants and is opened to:

  • IATA Member Airlines
  •  Airports
  •  Governments
  • Strategic Partners participating in the Strategic Partnerships program with the industry area of involvement of Passenger Experience or Common Use
  • Or any other organizations subject to the approval of the CUG Chairs and IATA Secretariat

 

The CUG is currently composed of the following sub-groups: 

  • Technical Solution Group CUSS
  • Technical Solution Group CUPPS
  • Technical Solution Group Common Use Web Services
  • IATA Technical Peripheral Specification Sub-Group
  • Bar Coded Boarding Pass (BCBP) group of experts
 
 
IATA PEMG Extranet
An Extranet containing a specific section for Common Use is available for IATA airline members and IATA Strategic Partners of the CUG to read and/or download reference documentation, including meeting agendas and minutes. Please refer to links below for login or registration.
 

*Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, no face to face meeting are currently planned but have been replaced by virtual sessions/calls.

  • The CUG generally meets at least twice annually on a face-to-face basis, coinciding with the Passenger Experience Conference Meeting
  • The CUG may arrange additional meetings outside of this schedule as required
  • Each sub-group could also schedule some additional meetings if required
  • Additionally, conference calls may be arranged at the CUG level and subgroup level to progress work streams as required
  • The CUG meeting schedule can be found here