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International Air Transport
Association
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is
the global organization for virtually all the international
air carriers. The principal function of IATA is to safely
facilitate the movement of persons and goods from any
point on the world air network to any other by any
combination of routes. This can be accomplished by a
single ticket bought at a single price in one currency
and valid everywhere for the same amount and quality
of service. The same principles apply to the movement
of freight and mail.
Resolutions of IATA standardize not only tickets, but
waybills, baggage checks, and other similar
documents. These resolutions coordinate and unify
handling and accounting procedures to permit rapid
interline bookings and connections. They also create
and maintain a stable pattern of international fares and
rates. In effect, they permit the linking of many
individual international airline routes into a single public
service system.
While developing standards and procedures for the
international airline industry to support interlining and
enhance customer service continues to be a principal
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