Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, announces it is expanding the convenience of non-BSP e-ticketing to Galileo-connected users in North Africa, with Air France being the first airline enabling issuance and amendments of e-tickets in Algeria, where a Billing and Settlement plan (BSP) is not available.

Travelport’s Electronic Transitional Automated Ticketing (ETAT) system provides agents and airlines with an efficient way of reconciling ticketing outside of the BSP. This streamlines the process for travel agents while providing airlines with cost-effective, additional revenue to sell air tickets which can be easily issued and amended.

This is the first time that Air France is implementing ETAT in a non BSP region, with Algeria being the first launched country. ETAT has now been rolled out for Kenya Airways, Brussels Airlines, South African Airways, TAAG, and RwandAir in various African countries like Angola, Gambia, Guinea, Burundi, Rwanda, Djibouti, Madagascar, Eritrea and Cape Verde. Kenya Airways was the first airline to offer Travelport’s ETAT solution in Africa in June 2009.

Jean Wieviorka, vp corporate & distribution Air France KLM, commented: “We are impressed by the functionality of products such as ETAT. It’s a secure and effective working solution to enhance an airline’s footprint in non-BSP markets such as Algeria.”

Will Owen Hughes, senior director airlines services for Travelport GDS in the Middle East and Africa, said, “The participation of Air France on the ETAT solution is a great step forward, and in line with our strategic expansion plans in North Africa. We plan to announce this functionality for even more airlines in coming weeks in Algeria and in other countries.”