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Get ready to change the way you travel. That is the message from Giovanni Bisignani, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an industry body that co-ordinates aviation rules and standards. He still wants you to travel by plane, of course, but with commercial aviation in a sorry state as a result of terrorist attacks, an economic slowdown, SARS, the Iraq war and high oil prices, he believes the best treatment for the industry is a strong dose of technology that could both reduce costs for airlines and make travel simpler and smoother for passengers. IATA's grand plan to do this, called “Simplifying the Business”, was launched in Geneva last November. It calls for a drastic overhaul of four aspects of the air-travel process—tickets, boarding passes, check-in and baggage handling—with an aggressive timetable that should start to deliver results this year. At the same time, other new technologies are reshaping the nature of air travel. In-flight internet access, and even the use of mobile phones, could soon become commonplace, on some routes at least. Entertainment systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated as airlines compete for customer loyalty. What will all this mean for air travellers?

The first plank of IATA's plan is to eliminate paper tickets by the end of 2007. In many parts of the world they are already an endangered species: only about 20% of tickets issued in America are paper ones, and almost all of those are for international flights. But globally, electronic tickets still account for only 35% of all tickets issued, up from 10% in 2001. Implementing e-ticketing within a single airline is relatively straightforward. But “interline” ticketing (in other words, tickets for a journey involving more than one airline) is trickier, because it requires different airlines' databases to talk to each other. Getting rid of paper tickets, then, involves linking up the airlines. This is happening first within airline alliances, says Mr Feldman, and then between airlines that partner on particular routes.

What of smaller, regional carriers? Linking up smaller airlines is not as tricky as it might seem, notes James Peters of SITA, a company that provides technology and infrastructure to the aviation industry. SITA runs a reservations system called Gabriel, which is used by more than 160 airlines, many of them small carriers in Africa and Asia. Support for electronic ticketing was added to Gabriel at the end of 2004. Problem solved, then? Not quite. What will take time, says Mr Peters, is establishing commercial agreements between airlines, changing procedures and training staff. “The technology and standards for electronic ticketing are well established,” says Mr Feldman. “But to implement it requires changes in business processes.” The cost savings ought to encourage airlines to get moving, however.

Continue reading this fascinating article in The Economist by clicking here.

What It Takes To Keep The 21st Century Business Traveller Happy

A survey of 1,000 business travellers has revealed the magic formula for the perfect business trip: a direct flight, flat bed, in-flight Blackberry, a friendly face at the airport, language lessons, online booking, e-tickets, flying alone, an iPod, high-speed Internet access, a power shower, a spa, crisp, clean cotton sheets, good hotel food and a concierge with contacts at all the best places. These are the principal ingredients for happy business travel in the 21st century.

Over 1,000 business travellers were surveyed for the recent Business Travel Show London to find out the essential mix for creating the perfect business trip in 2005. The show’s sister event, Business Travel Expo Hong Kong takes place March 22-23, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

What It Takes To Keep The 21st Century Business Traveller Happy:
- 62% of respondents said a direct flight would make their journey more enjoyable.
- 48% craved to see a chauffeur hold up a card with their name on at their destination airport.
- 46% said they wouldn’t be parted from their Blackberry for the world.
- 43% longed for the undeniable luxury of a flat bed on their long-haul flights.
Many travellers also believe that the perfect business trip starts well before they even step on the plane, with 15% saying that language lessons would seriously improve their travelling experience, and nearly 75% agreeing that the introduction of online booking and e-tickets have been the most significant developments in business travel over the last three years.

It seems business travellers are at one with themselves, as a third would rather go solo than have to share the journey with a colleague and 15% believe the flight wouldn’t be the same without their beloved iPod.

At the hotel, business travellers are an equally demanding bunch with 28% requiring highspeed Internet access, 24% asking for good hotel food, 20% dreaming of stretching their legs out in crisp, clean, cotton sheets, 15% claiming a power shower and a spa would refresh and relax them while away on business and 52% wanting a concierge who knows all the best places in town - and can reserve the best table at the drop of a hat.

(Source: Odyssey)

Concerned about traveling safely? World Travel Watch reports on developments that affect travelers around the globe, from crime waves, disease outbreaks, and transit strikes to political upheaval and cultural quirks. Visit www.worldtravel.com.

Ecuador and Peru
Doctors in both countries are on strike and routine medical care is hard to obtain except through private clinics. Emergency services are unaffected, but travelers with known medical risks should be sure to carry medical evacuation insurance in the event of an emergency.

Kenya
The recent killing of an Australian tourist by a hippopotamus in a game park is a reminder to proceed with caution around animals in the wild.

Malaysia
It is unlikely that a tourist would get caught up in the government crackdown on illegal immigrants, but some American citizens were arrested in these sweeps recently when they could not produce adequate identification. Carry your passport at all times.

Tibet
The Chinese government announced plans to develop tourism in Tibet over the next 15 years with hopes of drawing as many as 10 million annual visitors by 2020. The plan involves developing infrastructure, promoting urbanization and strengthening the economy to improve the standard of living.

India and Pakistan
Sometimes the smallest gesture can represent dramatic progress, and that is what analysts are saying about India and Pakistan agreeing to regular bus service across the ceasefire line in Kashmir. The bus service will run between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled sections of the disputed state, and is being viewed as a major step in the ongoing peace process between the arch rivals. At the same meeting foreign ministers of the two countries agreed on bus service between the Pakistani city of Lahore and Amritsar in India, and a rail link between Rajasthan state and Pakistan's Sindh province.

Philippines
Travel to several places in the southern islands is inadvisable because of ongoing insurgency and terrorist threats, especially central, southern and western Mindanao, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo. Three bombs in other areas on Feb. 14 killed seven and injured more than 150. Two of these bombings occurred in the southern cities of Davao and General Santos and the third on a bus in the Makati business district of Manila. The bombings were claimed by Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiah, two known terrorist groups. There are reports of possible future bombings against airports, seaports and ships, and random bombings in cities cannot be ruled out.