Continental, Northwest expand interline e-ticketing

Continental Airlines and Air China have instituted interline e-ticketing, permitting issuance of a single, paperless ticket for passengers with connecting itineraries on the two airlines. Air China already offered interline e-ticketing with United, Northwest and Air Canada, as well as several other foreign airlines, and said it expects to provide the same service with the 20 member carriers in the global Star Alliance before Air China becomes a member of the group at the end of this year. It already has e-ticketing with 16 Star members. Meanwhile, Northwest Airlines said it has now implemented interline e-ticketing with 100 airlines, making e-ticketing available with more than 99 percent of its international partner carriers. Northwest said that all member airlines in its SkyTeam alliance expect to eliminate paper ticketing by June 2008.