he good old paper ticket is on its last leg. Come 2007 and airlines will do away with paper tickets. Instead, the traveller will get an e-ticket - a concise version of what is now a sheaf of papers. Says Robey Lal, country manager, IATA (International Air Transport Association): "e-ticketing will benefit the customer, the airline, the travel agents and will also save time and money for all stakeholders."

At present, the cost of processing and printing a conventional ticket is estimated at $10. e-ticketing can bring that down to $1 - a saving of 90 per cent. The airline industry hopes to save roughly $3 billion every year globally.... more