The practice of replacing paper air tickets with e-tickets, which has been implemented widely, may save some 30 million yuan (US$3.75m) a year for Shenzhen, a spokesman for Shenzhen Airlines said yesterday.

The China Air Transport Association (CATA) stopped providing paper tickets Monday and instructed ticketing agents nationwide to issue e-tickets following a notice by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Friday. The IATA has required its 261 member airlines to abandon paper tickets by the end of 2007.

"Given that each paper ticket costs around 20 yuan and there are 15 million passengers departing the city each year, the move will save 30 million yuan in cost," said Hou Bin with Shenzhen Airlines.

However, paper tickets will be issued for international flights for the time being, and the paper tickets that agents already have with them will continue to be used until they run out.

Local ticketing agents used to apply online for paper tickets from IATA on Mondays and Thursdays, which they picked up from the headquarters of the Shenzhen branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China a day later. An official with Shenzhen Airlines' ticket center said she had withdrawn several thousand paper tickets last Monday, which will run out in a month.

"Apart from that, baby tickets, which are for those under 2 and cost 10 percent of the full price, and discounted tickets for disabled Army men will continue to be issued in paper," he said.

Cities like Jinggangshan, Linzhi, Manzhouli, Tongliao, Mudanjiang and Xishuangbanna cannot offer e-tickets presently as the airports are not yet equipped with the necessary computer system.

More than 20 million e-tickets were issued by agents in 2005, accounting for about 20 percent of all tickets issued, since e-tickets were first introduced in the domestic market in September 2004.

Airline companies themselves have been even quicker to move. At present, 28 airlines are offering e-tickets in China.

"It's certainly more convenient to use an e-ticket, but some clients are simply not accustomed to the idea of boarding with a code issued by the ticket agents and their ID cards, feeling a bit unsafe perhaps," said Li Zhen with China Southern Airlines.

"Some people, on business trips, will need an invoice for refund, and prefer paper tickets," she said.

"Later, the State Taxation Bureau issued a uniform 'flight schedule form' in June this year, which can be used as an invoice for passengers. This is a big step in promoting the e-tickets," Li said.

Editor: Yan