Bar-Coded Boarding Passes (BCBP) Implementation guide - IATA
Bar-Coded Boarding Passes (BCBP) Implementation guide - IATA
Bar-Coded Boarding Passes (BCBP) Implementation guide - IATA
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<strong>BCBP</strong> technical implementation<br />
codes on boarding passes<br />
Figure 40 - Printing techniques supporting 2D bar codes<br />
5.6.2. Thermal printers<br />
There are two thermal printing methods: ‘direct thermal’ and ‘thermal transfer’. Each method<br />
uses a thermal print head that applies heat to the surface being marked.<br />
• Thermal transfer printing uses a heated ribbon to produce durable, long-lasting images<br />
on a wide variety of materials.<br />
• No ribbon is used in direct thermal printing, which creates the image directly on the<br />
printed material. Direct thermal paper stock is more sensitive to light, heat and abrasion,<br />
which reduces the life of the printed material.<br />
Direct thermal printing uses chemically treated, heat-sensitive paper stock that blackens when it<br />
passes under the thermal print head. Direct thermal printers have no ink, toner, or ribbon. Their<br />
simple design makes thermal printers durable and easy to use. Because there is no ribbon,<br />
direct thermal printers cost less to operate than inkjet, laser, impact, and thermal transfer<br />
printers. Most mobile printers use direct thermal technology.<br />
In thermal transfer printing, a thermal print head applies heat to a ribbon, which melts ink onto<br />
the material to form the image. The ink is absorbed so that the image becomes part of the paper<br />
stock. This technique provides image quality and durability that is unmatched by other ondemand<br />
printing technologies. The specific label material and ribbon must be carefully matched<br />
to ensure print performance and durability.<br />
5.6.3. ATB Technical Specs<br />
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) manages the ATB technical specifications. The ATB<br />
specs define the concept of parametric tables or pectabs, which are used by all ATB printers and<br />
readers.<br />
The latest available ATB technical specs were amended in December 2007. Since 2002, the<br />
AEA specs enable users to add a PDF417 bar code to the boarding passes. All ATB printers that<br />
have upgraded their firmware to comply with AEA2002 can print the <strong>BCBP</strong> standard bar code<br />
(see fig. 39).<br />
Figure 41 - Example of direct thermal ATB printer that can print PDF417 courtesy of Intermec<br />
A future amendment of the ATB specs is discussed as we write this document. The amendment<br />
would enable a host system to request information from the device, such as type of printer or<br />
firmware.<br />
4 th edition - June 2009 - www.iata.org/stb/bcbp 57/128