Airlines’ move to cut commission uncalled for, say agents

Mumbai: The recent move by leading airlines to cut travel agents’ commission from the prevailing 5 per cent to nil is being described as a ‘threat to livelihoods’ of as many as 21 lakh professionals employed in the tours and travel industry.
On Monday, over 300 agents from in and around Mumbai and belonging to six different associations of travel agents got together in a bid to express their solidarity and jointly proclaimed the move by airlines as “uncalled-for and impetuous”.
“It’s a very foolish attitude to stop something that been in practice for the last 60 years with just a notice period of 90 days, and without any discussion from the other party,” said Ajay Prakash, CEO of Nomad Travels and also the president of TAFI’s Mumbai chapter.
On Wednesday, the leaders from the six travel agents’ associations will be meeting airline representatives from the National Aviation Company of India (NACIL), Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways on the issue, besides seeking a divine intervention by means of a ‘hawan’ to save the industry from the current chaos. The six associations include Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), Association of Domestic Tours Operators of India (ADTOI) and Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA).
21/07/08 Mumbai Newsline

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jul 2008