Simplifying the Business

Simplifying the Business (StB) is the industry's top priority. SITA is involved in all seven areas of the StB programme.

SITA contributions to StB

Electronic ticketing (e-Ticketing)

The four-year project to remove paper ticketing from the industry has been the flagship of the StB programme ever since its start at the June 2004 IATA AGM.

The air transport industry has now transitioned to e-ticketing. As an IATA preferred partner for e-ticketing, SITA was heavily involved in its successful migration. SITA worked directly with airlines to ensure their ticketing systems could handle the change. We also provided leadership at industry workshops.

Bar-coded boarding passes

Bar-coded boarding passes (BCBP) use 2D bar codes to facilitate interline journeys and optimize the industry's conversion to 100% e-ticketing. The goal of BCBP is two-fold: reduce airline costs associated with check-in processes and offer more convenience to the passenger.

SITA worked with IATA and other industry organizations to develop the 2D bar code standard – PDF417, which is more reliable than conventional 1D bar codes and has the potential to put an entire itinerary on one boarding pass.

SITA is ensuring the 2D standard is widely accepted around the world by making its common use infrastructure and equipment compatible.

Common-use self-service kiosks

Common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks offer convenient passenger check-in while allowing multiple airlines to share kiosks. The result is lower costs without sacrificing branding or functionality. CUSS kiosks also alleviate congestion and improve passenger flow, since they can be located throughout the airport.

SITA has played a pivotal role in writing the CUSS standard and deploying common-use kiosks industry-wide.

Radio frequency identification

The radio frequency identification (RFID) initiative embeds a silicon chip into a tag, emitting a radio signal that can be read at a distance without having to see the item. This will greatly simplify airline logistics management. Its results are currently most notable in the baggage area.

SITA was involved in the definition and evolution of RFID standards for baggage tags as part of its work on the IATA Baggage Message Working Group and RFID sub-committee. SITA also gave the RFID initiative real-world experience through its implementation at Hong Kong International Airport.

SITA leveraged the RFID initiative in upgrading our baggage and airport check-in solutions to support the IATA RFID standard.

Baggage improvement programme

The baggage improvement programme (BIP) will reduce the rate of mishandled baggage by improving handling processes to ensure passengers and their baggage are reunited at final destination. SITA is wholly committed to this vision and is working with IATA through the BIP to bring about its achievement.

Fast travel

The fast travel initiative will offer full-service to passengers through a range of self-service options. SITA is a leading member of this IATA workgroup.

Electronic freight (e-Freight)

The e-freight programme will remove reliance on paper documents from the transport of air cargo by 2010, with a fast-track programme having started in 2007.

The initiative is designed to eliminate duplication, expedite processing times and improve overall quality of data. IATA expects carriers to benefit from savings in excess of US$ 1 billion per year.

SITA joint-venture CHAMP Cargosystems is e-freight ready, and as both an IATA strategic partner and an IATA e-freight solutions vendor, is working closely with its customers to help prepare for the new paper free processes.

e-Freight goals include:

Replace air carriage paper documents with electronic documents
Use electronic data to eliminate paper air waybills (numbering in the hundreds of millions per year)
Increase data quality, timeliness and consistency with the message improvement programme
Replace paper shipping documents with certified / verified digital documents
Automate customs reporting (will require some legislative changes)