BSP-IATA-SETTLEMENT

Global IATA agencies-airlines settlement.

Definition

BSP operates in 180 BSP markets (BSP France, BSP UK, BSP Japan, etc.), each with local settlement bank. Workflow: agency issues ticket, declares to BSP via IAR-NET or GDS, net commission computation, bi-monthly airline payment via settlement bank. Settlement values: ~$240 billion/year. Documents: Sales Report, Refund Application Form, ADM, ACM. Expected successor: Settlement with Orders in Modern Airline Retailing.

Origin

BSP launched 1971 in Japan ; global expansion 1980s-1990s ; ~180 BSP markets in 2024 ; centralisation at IATA Geneva.

Example in context

A Paris agency sells an Air France ticket via Amadeus ; declaration via Amadeus to BSP France ; bi-monthly settlement cycle: agency pays BSP, BSP redistributes to airlines.

Related terms

• ARC — US equivalent.