American Airlines to Abolish Paper Tickets by End of 2003

American Airlines said Monday that it plans to stop issuing paper tickets by the end of 2003 and start charging a $20 fee for them next month if buyers qualify for an electronic version.

The world’s largest airline said it will eliminate paper tickets for U.S. flights by March and for other service by the end of next year to cut costs. American plans to put self-service ticket machines in 70 of its 170 U.S. airports, double the current number, spokesman Todd Burke said.

American and other major U.S. carriers have lost billions of dollars since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as air-travel demand declined. Continental Airlines Inc. in November said it would charge $10 to cover processing costs if customers chose paper tickets when an electronic version was available.

American’s ticket change is part of the carrier’s “reexamination and refinement of its business model,” an effort Chief Executive Don Carty said earlier this month is aimed at saving money to stem losses. The company didn’t say how much the move is expected to save.

Shares of AMR Corp., American’s parent, fell 5 cents to $17.60 on the New York Stock Exchange.