CUSS hits the target
The number of airports offering CUSS facilities reached 130 this month, meeting the IATA Board’s target two months ahead of schedule. The increasing spread of CUSS, at 130 locations, indicates that we have reached a level of maturity in the technology and process for the passenger. "All kiosks (dedicated and CUSS) currently represent 30% of total passenger check-in on average and 40% in North America and Western Europe. By reaching this target we have achieved the industry vision!", said Paul Behan, Fast Travel Programme Manager. CUSS will continue to be promoted where it makes sense for airlines as part of the larger Fast Travel Programme.
BIP update
BIP was launched at three more airlines and three airports last month:
- Malaysian and Kuala Lumpur International
- TAM and Sao Paulo Guarulhos
- TAP and Lisbon Airport
This brings the total number of airlines and airports benefiting from BIP this year to 10 and seven respectively.
IATA Country Managers presented the Baggage Improvement Programme to 211 airlines around the world this month. Detailed results will be available in the next newsletter for you.
BCBP airport focus continues: 1,870 airports now in scope
The BCBP project continued its focus on airports this month. IATA country managers asked airlines around the world to identify airports they fly to and the equipment (specifically, printers and readers) used at those airports. As a result of this exercise, 1,870 airports have been identified as in scope for BCBP. These airports will be the focus for the project from now until the 2010 mandate, as BCBP penetration will be measured using these airports.
IATA thanks its member airlines for their leadership and support in identifying these airports through the BCBP Matchmaker.
JPSC modifies IATA 2D barcode standard for mobile phones
At the recently concluded Joint Passenger Services Conference, IATA members approved an amendment to the IATA mobile standard for 2D barcodes. The revised standard meets current US Transport Safety Administration (TSA) security requirements. It includes a digital signature, allowing TSA screeners to verify the authenticity of the barcode.
The amendment to the standard means a uniform industry approach to the technology – allowing the TSA to use the same equipment to process boarding passes for multiple airlines. It follows successful mobile boarding pass trials conducted by the TSA and IATA member airlines Continental, Delta and Northwest Airlines.
According to an article in USA Today, TSA plans to expand security acceptance of mobile boarding passes nationwide. The demand for paperless travel is on the increase. The SITA IT Trends survey states that 6.5% of passengers will be using electronic boarding passes by the end of 2009.
Mauritius, New Zealand, Australia and USA implemented IATA e-freight in October
IATA e-freight added four countries to its growing list of live locations this month, bringing the total to 12. At the end of October, the project status is 12 live locations, 14 live airports, 40 connecting trade lanes, 14 capable airlines, 15 capable freight forwarders, and more than 10’000 IATA e-freight shipments since November 2007.
Mauritius went live on 4 October 2008 on the Mauritius - London trade lane, led by Air Mauritius and Allport.
New Zealand went live on 14 October 2008. Two trade lanes are now open from and to Auckland Airport (AKL): New Zealand - Singapore and New Zealand - Hong Kong. The New Zealand implementation project was led by New Zealand Customs and supported by Singapore airlines, Cathay Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding, Mainfreight International and MAF Biosecurity of New Zealand.
Australia went live on 16 October 2008 on its first e-freight airport - Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) - and is now live on two trade lanes: Australia - Singapore and Australia - Hong Kong. Qantas led the Australia IATA e-freight implementation. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, DHL Global Forwarding, Schenker, Fracht Australia, Australian Customs, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, the Australian Federation of International Forwarders and the Customers Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia were key participants in the Australian e-freight project.
USA went live on its New York - London trade lane on 21 October 2008. Further expansion to other trade lanes from and to New York and Chicago are already planned. US Customs and Border Protection, American Airlines Cargo and United Airlines Cargo led the USA e-freight implementation effort.
StB continues to speed up the industry transition to paper-free airfreight. Although the concept of electronic documents has been around for more than 20 years, the support of the IATA Board of Governors in addition to the project team’s development of common industry standards for electronic messaging allowed IATA e-freight to gather pace worldwide. In the past year, over 10,000 IATA e-freight shipments have been completed. The number of locations will increase to at least 14 by the end of 2008, more than doubling the number in 2007.
Contact us to share your comments,
questions and ideas! The StB Global
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