Print jobs on the line as air travel goes paperless

Suppliers of paper airline tickets will be forced to scout out new revenue streams following the International Air Transport Association (IATA) filing its final, 16.5m-strong order.

As of 1 June 2008, IATA will offer 100% e-ticketing as part of a drive that began in June 2004. This last order will provide enough stock to cover all requirements leading up to the deadline.

Munich, Germany-based Bartsch International, a leading supplier to the air industry and one of IATA's strategic partners, will be one of the worst hit, as "20% of turnover is ticketing".

Daniel Novacek, sales representative at Bartsch, which includes BMI on its client list, told printweek.com: "Many firms that supply paper tickets will collapse, and we'll end up with fewer suppliers."

The firm currently employs 275 staff, but plans to cut numbers to 220 because of the loss of IATA work.

However, Novacek earmarked new product lines and other markets as probable future earners.

"IATA is a big customer, but there are also others. For example, North Africa, the Near East and Russia – they still use paper tickets," he added.

"We have also developed new products, such as RFID baggage tags."

IATA chief executive Giovanni Bisignani said: "The cost saving of US$9 (£4.45) for every e-ticket compared with a paper ticket adds up to US$3bn (£1.47bn) in annual savings for the industry.

"And eliminating paper will save the equivalent of 50,000 mature trees each year. E-ticketing is a winning proposition for everyone."
Source: printweek