The paper airline ticket comes to the end of its life on Sunday when 240 carriers belonging to the world association IATA switch to all electronic ticketing, much of it through internet booking.
IATA members account for 94% of world airline traffic and by the end of February, 94% of them had already abandoned the rectangle of stiff paper in favour of digital technology. In Africa, 87% of IATA airlines had made the switch.
The last paper tickets will be sold on Saturday, and the International Air Transport Association estimates that its member airlines will save $3 billion a year, a much needed economy in the face of a huge rise in fuel costs.
Paper tickets issued before the deadline will still be valid for the travel dates indicated on them.
The issue and handling of a paper ticket costs an airline $10 - its electronic replacement costs about $1 on average.
IATA also calculates that the end of the paper ticket will save 50,000 trees a year.
