IATA Will Now Require Travel Agents to Enter Passenger Contact Information During Bookings
Starting June 1, International Air Transport Association (IATA) will require all travel advisors and travel agencies to enter passenger contact information when booking air tickets as part of a new rule that IATA issued on its website this week. As part of IATA Resolution 830d, advisors booking air tickets through IATA's Passenger Agency Program “must actively ask each passenger whether they wish to have their contact details (mobile number and/or email) provided to airlines participating in the itinerary.” According to IATA, the rule is being implemented in order to help contact the passenger “in an operational disruption” and so that airlines are “able to advise passengers of irregular flight operations and disruptions.” All contact info has to be obtained from passengers with data protection regulations, meaning advisors will have to specifically ask for permission for the info being handing it over to the airline. If the passenger declines, an advisor will have to enter