El Al likely to join BSP system in January 2010
El Al is expected to join IATA’s settlement system after a number of delays and postponements. In the last few days El Al sent a message to IATA telling them of their intention; but are yet to announce anything to the travel agents. IATA refused to comment on the matter.
El Al is currently completing arrangements for joining BSP (Billing and Settlements Plan), IATA’s clearing system. It is expected that El Al will officially announce that they will join on 1st January 2010. IATA’s Israeli representative has informed airline directors of the procedure.
El Al’s joining BSP comes after a number of postponements and delays with the original planned date of joining being January 2009. Koby Zussman, head of IATA in Israel refused to comment on the matter, but estimated that as soon as permission was granted by the Antitrust commissioner to continue operating the system in Israel, then travel agents in Israel would be advised.
The main significance to travel agents is that from 1st January El Al, like most other airlines, will receive a regular a monthly payment for the sale of tickets directly from IATA.
The Antitrust Authority reported that IATA’s procedures were being reviewed and that the checks had not yet been completed. El Al responded: “Because the tests have yet to be completed; the date of our joining has not been set.”
