What Is IATA Accreditation?
Definition: IATA accreditation is the approval that allows a travel agency to sell and issue tickets on behalf of participating airlines and settle through BSP.
How IATA accreditation works
An agency applies to IATA in its market. If approved, it receives an IATA code and can issue tickets in its own name for airlines that participate, settling the money through BSP.
The exact criteria differ by market, but accreditation commonly involves:
- Financial checks on the business.
- A financial guarantee, such as a bank guarantee, in many cases.
- Regular BSP settlement: paying ticket sales on fixed dates.
- Ongoing compliance and annual fees.
Check the current rules for your country directly with IATA.
Why it matters for travel agencies
Accreditation gives independence: you issue your own tickets and can contract airlines directly. It also brings fixed costs, cash-flow pressure and obligations from day one, before your sales volume may justify them.
Many agencies start by booking through a ticketing partner, such as a consolidator or B2B platform, and apply for accreditation once volume grows.
Example
Hypothetical: a new agency expects to sell a handful of tickets a week. It compares the cost of a financial guarantee and BSP settlement with booking through a partner, and starts with the partner while it builds its customer base.
How QuickOTA fits
QuickOTA does not require IATA accreditation; QuickOTA issues the ticket for your booking. To open an account you need a registered company or a valid travel agency (tourism) licence from your country. You are responsible for meeting your own country's rules for selling travel. Read Can a Non-IATA Travel Agency Issue Airline Tickets?.