MADRID - Amadeus, announces it is first to market with the
availability of IATA's Electronic Miscellaneous Document
(EMD) for travel agencies and first to receive full IATA
sign-off. All GDS providers must ensure the industry's EMD
standard is available to travel agencies in all of ARC
(Airlines Reporting Corporation) and BSP (Billing &
Settlement Plan) markets by end 2013. The EMD is the
industry electronic messaging standard which enables
airlines and travel agencies to more effectively share
information relating to issuance, management, distribution
and fulfilment of airline services. Amadeus is the first in
the industry to be compliant with the full solution; it has
not only replaced the current tool with the new electronic
version to issue documents for standalone travel related
services such as lounge access, vouchers, etc., but in
advance of its competitors, it has also enabled the
collection of payment for a variety of services directly
associated to a flight, such as excess baggage and specific
meals. Amadeus has already announced the availability of
its comprehensive EMD solution for airlines with Finnair,
implemented 1st of June 2010, which enables the airline to
process EMDs through its direct sales channels. Amadeus'
market by market rollout of EMD functionality to travel
agencies will enable airlines to distribute a wide range of
products, including ancillary services, according to
industry standards through the distribution channel which
continues to provide airlines with over 60 percent of its
revenue and provides the highest yield. Amadeus' EMD
rollout for travel agencies is underway in Finland with the
first travel agents set to go live in Q1 2011. An
additional 20 markets, including ARC markets, will be
functional during 2011, with a further 70 markets going
live during 2012 and the remaining 70 IATA Billing &
Settlement Plan (BSP) markets will be operational in 2013
in order to meet the industry target. EMD is a key
component of IATA's e-Services drive which eliminates paper
processing from the industry - IATA estimates the EMD will
save the airline industry $2.9 billion annually.