IATA: International Air Transport Association

International air transport is one of the most dynamic and fastest-changing industries in the world. It needs a responsive, forward-looking and universal trade association, operating at the highest professional standards. IATA is that association.

IATA brings together approximately 270 airlines, including the world's largest. Flights by these airlines comprise 94 percent of all international scheduled air traffic.

Since these airlines face a rapidly changing world, they must cooperate in order to offer a seamless service of the highest possible standard to passengers and cargo shippers. Much of that cooperation is expressed through IATA, whose mission is to "represent, lead and serve the airline industry".

Continual efforts by IATA ensure that people, freight and mail can move around the vast global airline network as easily as if they were on a single airline in a single country. In addition, IATA helps to ensure that Members' aircraft can operate safely, securely, efficiently and economically under clearly defined and understood rules.

For consumers, IATA simplifies the travel and shipping process. By helping to control airline costs, IATA contributes to cheaper tickets and shipping costs. Thanks to airline cooperation through IATA, individual passengers can make one telephone call to reserve a ticket, pay in one currency and then use the ticket on several airlines in several countries – or even return it for a cash refund.

IATA is also a collective link between third parties and the airlines. Passenger and cargo agents are able to make representations to the industry through IATA and derive the benefit of neutrally applied agency service standards and levels of professional skill. Equipment manufacturers and third-party service providers are able to join in the airline meetings which define the way air transport goes about its business.

IATA allows airlines to operate more efficiently. It offers joint means – beyond the resources of any single company – of exploiting opportunities, reducing costs and solving problems. Airlines knit their individual networks into a world-wide system through IATA, despite differences in language, currencies, laws and national customs.

IATA is a useful means for governments to work with airlines and draw on their experience and expertise. Working standards within the aviation industry are developed within IATA. In fostering safe and efficient air transport, IATA serves the stated policies of most of the world's governments.

Accredited Travel Agent: Travel Agents must be accredited with IATA to be authorized to sell Internation Airline tickets. (Many “Cruise Only” agencies are not accredited and thus can only sell airfare offered by the Cruise Lines). The purpose of Accreditation is to formally recognize travel agents that are authorized to sell and issue international airline tickets.

There are various responsibilities that are involved. Primarily, Accredited agents are accepting payments from customers on behalf of the airlines whose tickets are issued. It is essential that that those customers and airlines can have the necessary reliance on those agents that tickets are issued to the required standards, and those payments reach the airlines in a proper and timely manner.

The Accreditation process has a set of criteria that need to be achieved. They are global in nature, but modified to meet local circumstances as may be required.