IATA in rail standards initiative

Health & Leisure

Monday, 03 February 2020

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Union of Railways (UIC), designed to strengthen co-operation in 'standard setting and interoperability initiatives', with a focus on data exchange standards supporting intermodal travel. 

Collaboration opportunities to be explored range from dual perspectives of existing distribution processes and standards to transformative retail-based 'offer-order' processes and standards, typified by the New Distribution Capability and ONE Order initiatives. 

Specific areas for dialogue and co-operation around standards and interoperability include:
• Journey planning and shopping.
• Reservations and servicing. 
• Ticketing, including irregular operations processes.
• Industry coding, including location codes.
• Check-in and validation control.
• Accounting and settlement.
• Legal aspects.

François Davenne, UIC director general said: “This MoU confirms the desire to promote multimodality. Offering customers a single ticket for rail and air travel gives them the opportunity to choose the best of both worlds by optimising their journeys as well as their carbon footprints. 

"In addition, both IATA and UIC are developing tomorrow’s digital standards for ticketing applications: To work on established interfaces right from the design phase is an exciting prospect.”