IATA Engages Travel Agents on BSP Implementation

IATA Engages Travel Agents on BSP Implementation

20th October 2022

SLCAA Conference Hall, Freetown

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), West and Central Africa Region Office has engaged Travel Agents on the implementation of the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP).

It could be recalled that the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) through the Ministry of Transport and Aviation signed the BSP Agreement for the establishment of a single standard interface for invoicing and payment between Travel Agents and Airlines in November 2019.

Briefing Travel Agents on the importance of the BSP platform, the IATA Head of Account Management for West and Central Africa Region, Dr. Samson Fatokun maintained that the BSP system was more structured, it would widen up the space and create a level playing field for all Travel Agents and create some amount of price stability in ticket prices. 

The BSP is the central point through, which data and funds flow between the Travel Agents and Airlines, whether operating in Sierra Leone or not. Agents are provided with a range of electronic ticket numbers to be used for sales on any airline,” he underscored.

He furthered that Travel Agent would make one single payment to the BSP, covering sales on all BSP Airlines. The BSP would in turn make one consolidated payment to each airline, covering sales made by all Travel Agents in the country/region.

The SLCAA Director-General, Dr. Moses Tiffa Baio, in his statement revealed that Sierra Leone would be the first country within the Mano River Union Bloc to start the BSP System.

Dr. Baio averred that the Government of Sierra Leone was creating an enabling environment to enable indigenous Sierra Leoneans to participate in downstream sector of the Aviation Industry, creating more employment opportunities, improving the livelihood of Sierra Leoneans and promoting economic development.

As an Authority, we are also working with our partners to establish an Aviation training school, which is in line with President Bio’s Human Capital Development vision, thus serving as a bedrock for establishing sustainable aviation system in Sierra Leone,” he said.

Dr. Baio called on the Travel Agents to take advantage of this opportunity in helping to build the aviation industry in Sierra Leone and make history together.

Commending the SLCAA for facilitating the process, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Association of Travel Agents (SLATA), John Rogers said that the BSP was not only timely but would help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to also enjoy part of the market share.

BSP is a system designed to facilitate and simplify the selling, reporting, and remitting procedures of IATA Accredited Passenger Sales Agents, as well as improve financial control and cash flow for BSP Airlines.

DG SLCAA
Dr Samson Fatokun IATA Area Manager
SL Travel Agents

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