IATA Simplifying the Business
Simplifying the Business (StB) is an initiative by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to lower industry costs and improve passenger service. Launched in 2004, the program consists of four projects that the association says will save the airline industry over US$14 billion each year.[1].
Current projects include bar coded boarding passes (BCBP), IATA e-freight, Baggage Improvement Program and the Fast Travel Program.
StB completed its e-ticket project on June 1, 2008. The project converted the industry to 100% e-ticketing in four years [2], saving the industry US$3 billion, according to the association.
Industry involvement
Simplifying the Business is sponsored by the IATA Board of Governors, a group of 30 airline CEOs. The programme is endorsed by the IATA annual general meeting, which represents 93% of the world's scheduled international air traffic, according to the association.
2009 Targets
- 60% BCBP capability
- 20 baggage mishandling diagnosis visits
- 10 airlines live in the Fast Travel areas of bags ready-to-go, self-boarding and bag recovery
- 75 airports live in the Fast Travel area of document scanning
- 5 more e-freight live locations, three more e-freight electronic standards