Paper airline tickets will become extinct from next June, the International Air Transport Association has announced.
The trade body has placed its final order for 16.5 million paper tickets to supply the 60,000 IATA accredited travel agents around the world until 31 May.
The move will reduce the cost to airlines from £4.50 to 50p, saving the industry £1.5 billion. A total of 84% of tickets are now paper-free, compared with 16% three years ago, said IATA.
IATA director general and chief executive Giovanni Bisignani said: “We are changing an industry with tangible benefits for travellers, agents, airlines and the environment.
“Travel agents had to be located in cities so that people could pick up their tickets, but now they can broaden their distribution. Agents will also save on distribution costs and security equipment such as safes for storing tickets.”