A resolution has been adopted at the Passenger Services Conference in Dubai on a standard for IATA's new One Order initiative, aimed at removing multiple reservation records and easing connectivity between network and low-cost carriers.
The One Order initiative is intended to modernise airline order management including the delivery, fulfilment and accounting processes related to airline products and services. This could ultimately pave the way for passengers to receive one document with a single order number instead of multiple reservation records.
"The role of the resolution is to put in place the framework for the industry to work with a single order, replacing a reservation and separate accountable documents (e-ticket and electronic miscellaneous document covering things such as ancillary products) as is the case today," IATA explains.
"It will greatly simplify the passenger experience and remove one of the hassles of travel – trying to find the correct document or number when dealing with an itinerary change or a travel disruption," states Aleks Popovich, IATA's senior vice-president of financial and distribution services.
One Order is one of several initiatives highlighted by new IATA chief executive, Alexandre de Juniac, at the start of the World Passenger Symposium in Dubai, which, he notes, builds on IATA's NDC distribution initiative. He adds that 26 airlines have already implemented at least part of the NDC standards.
"The next challenge is to free our passengers from the multitude of identifiers associated with any one booking – the GDS reservation number, ticket number and airline reservation number," de Juniac states.
"It's unnecessarily complicated for travellers and inefficient for airlines. The budget carriers have demonstrated the advantages of ticketless travel. It's simpler and cheaper compared to the complex and less flexible systems that network carriers use. But it does not necessarily allow for links to other carriers or complicated itineraries.
"The One Order initiative promises to cut through the complexity to create itineraries with a single reference number that will have the potential of connecting to the networks of budget carriers. That will add real value to our customers and opportunities for our business."
Source: Cirium Dashboard
