Standard Timetable

<FONT SIZE="+3"><B>Standard Timetable</B>

<I>Los Angeles</I> - While the global standards for electronic ticketing and smart cards passed this month by the International Air Transport Association provide a framework on which airlines can base their programs, the travel industry should not expect to see international interlining outside of North America for one to two years.

The ATA passed standards for domestic electronic ticketing earlier this year-and six of the seven largest U.S. airlines (excluding Delta) already offer the service on all of their domestic flights. But even here, interlining won't take place for many months.

"We'll see some interlining domestically next fall, probably between Continental and America West," said Steve Cossette, senior director of distribution planning for Continental Airlines. "Internationally, you have to get it going within your carrier and your country, and then when the other airlines and countries adopt it too, you can do it. These standards are a major development toward that end."

United Airlines director of distribution Sue Fullman said her airline is now focusing on refining specifications for international e-ticketing and will announce service to the first country in the second quarter of next year. In the meantime, a committee including representatives from United and its international partners-Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS and Thai Airways-will begin developing interlining procedures in December. Fullman predicted that interlining will begin domestically between United and Continental in 1998.

Ed Boyle, director of electronic ticketing and smart card for American Express, contended that consistent interlining is "at least a year or two away. Simply publishing standards doesn't mean you have a solution," he said. "Airlines need to develop bilaterals with each other, and then they have to build a coding system-an 'adapter' of sorts-for each of their e-ticket systems. It could mean a substantial investment."

On the smart-card side, Boyle said, "now people can really start testing them. You'll see a lot more tests because until now they didn't make much sense. You'll also see more tests of multifunctional use." He said Amex will soon be looking toward hotels and car rentals in its test with IBM (<I>BTN</I>, Oct. 14).

IBM, which played a major role in fashioning the standards, just announced a venture with United to market its electronic ticketing system to other airlines. Continental plans to market its airport e-ticket machines. And Delta Shuttle said it will roll out a smart card program to all passengers next year.