SPS is Abta’s direct debit system, allowing fast online payments between agents and operators.  Transactions are consolidated by the scheme, so that each week only a single payment is made in or out of each member’s bank account.
 
The new SPS was developed by technology company Travel Ledger. Abta said it would give members more control over their payments, “not only who they transact with, but also by facilitating deposit and balance payments from travel agents to tour operators, and refunds from operators to agents”.

Abta added: “Over time, Abta members who join the scheme will have the opportunity to process payments more frequently, with the potential for more than the one cycle per week that the current scheme allows.” 
 
The system is designed to allow members to review their own data and identify potential problems with transactions in advance, before payments are authorised or transactions fail.
 
John de Vial, Abta’s special adviser, said: “The new scheme will use the latest technology to allow fast, accurate and secure consolidated payments and refunds. We’re confident that it will greatly support users’ businesses and make payments easier.”
  
Abta members settled more than 600,000 bookings to the value of more than £900 million in 2019.