APG France launches e-ticketing

APG France and its 80 worldwide affiliate members of the APG Global Associates network, have launched a timely and important new product: APG Interline E-Ticketing (APG-IET).

In accordance with IATA’s decision, after 31 May 2008 only Electronic Tickets (E-Tickets) may be settled via the 81 IATA Billing and Settlement Plans (BSPs) around the world. The E-Ticketing deadline also applies to the issuance of interline tickets. Today, many airlines are seeking a short cut solution to become Interline E-Ticketing (IET) compliant. The APG IET program is the perfect solution giving the airlines access to Interline E-Ticketing via any GDS with the airline partners they want.

APG has partnered with Heli Air Monaco (YO-747) who functions as the validating air carrier and the E-Ticketing data base of the APG IET product. All airlines interested in joining the APG IET program will only have to sign one single reciprocal Interline E-Ticketing agreement with YO-747. Thanks to this agreement, the signing carrier will get access to Interline E-Ticketing via the Heli Air Monaco platform on a totally variable, “Pay As You Earn” cost basis and pay no more than the typical Interline Service Charge (ISC) they already incur. Using the APG Interline E-Ticketing solution, airlines avoid a large investment in their own IET implementation.

The APG IET program will use familiar IATA and ARC tools, including BSPs around the world and ARC in the United States plus ICH, ACH, ICCS, Card Clear, CardAXS, IDEC and iiNET.

Sandrine de Saint Sauveur, CEO of APG, said “We identified the urgent need of many airlines for an IET solution and have been working on the development of APG IET for nearly three years. Today, we are proud to announce that a range of airlines, such as Air India (AI), has decided to take up the APG IET solution”.

Jean-Louis Baroux, President of APG Global Associates added, "The APG-GA client list of more than 240 airlines in 112 countries have been waiting for a reliable IET product since the IATA Director General announced the StB project in 2005. Given our network’s track record with the development of IATA and ARC products in the past, there is little doubt about the success of IET. APG-GA’s extensive worldwide network covering 108 countries enables us to think globally and act locally ".

APG Global Associates is the world’s leading network for airline distribution services with 80 members worldwide. APG-GA offers, in addition to its APG IET program, an array of airline and tourism distribution services including General Sales Agency, Variable Cost Access to BSP and ARC, Inventory System Solutions, Airline Passenger Insurance, Revenue Accounting, Fare Filing Services, Market Revenue Mapping, Overflow Call Centers and Destination Marketing.

For more information, visit apg-ga.com.