Fact Sheet - IATA Billing and Settlement Plan

• IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) is a system designed to facilitate and simplify the selling, reporting and remitting procedures of IATA Accredited Passenger Sales Agents, as well as improve financial control and cash flow of participating airlines 
• A worldwide system that operates in some 177 countries and territories 
• In 2012 IATA’s BSP processed $251.8 billion

Year	Agents	Sales $ bn	Bad debt $ m	Bad debt % sales
2003	58,900	132	43	0.032
2004	59,500	158	55	0.035
2005	60,400	171	62	0.036
2006	60,557	187	31	0.017
2007	53,894	220	53	0.024
2008	54,566	240	85	0.035
2009	54,848	191	128	0.067
2010	55,036	221	54	0.029
2011	53,914	249	68	0.027
2012	60,471	252	64	.02

BSP Participating Airlines Benefits

• Access to a global distribution network of IATA accredited travel agents who have signed a single standard Passenger Sales Agency Agreement with IATA 
• Neutral agent verification services by IATA including financial evaluation and status monitoring 
• Reliable credit management with a collection rate of 99.976% 
• Access to IATA’s BSP and BSPlink that together provide a single standard interface for invoicing and payment between agents and airlines 
• Protection in case of violation of the Passenger Sales Agency Agreement or fraudulent practices

IATA Accredited Travel Agent Benefits

• Access to more than 240 IATA airline members using a single standard Passenger Sales Agency Agreement.
• Ability to sell international and/or domestic tickets on behalf of the airlines
• Access to IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP), and BSPlink that together provide a single standard interface for invoicing and payment between the agent and multiple airlines and transport providers
• Global travel industry recognition through an IATA Numeric Code that provides a unique agent identifier  
• Global consumer confidence due to recognition of IATA-accredited travel agents meeting industry standards identifiable by the IATA logo and branding displayed on travel agents’ premises and websites
• Provides standard procedures which ensure fair and uniform standards in all dealings with airlines

Consumer Benefits

• Confidence that IATA accredited travel agents meet industry standards and financial  criteria 
• Unbiased advice and the option to purchase tickets on a wide range of airlines through IATA-accredited travel agents

Updated: December 2013