Left backs travel agents’ agitation

New Delhi: Agitating travel agents have found support among the Left parties and trade unions. In the past one month, 15 airlines, including Air India, the national carrier, have withdrawn the 5% commission they paid to travel agents. With the Left parties all set to bring it up in the Parliament session that begins 10 December, the travel agents’ commission issue has now become political.
peaking at a public meeting called by IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) in New Delhi, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said, “At least 1 million members of the Indian public are going to be affected by a decision of the Indian government and yet the government does not find necessary to speak to a single representative of the travel agency. I think this is absolutely outrageous and we strongly protest against it.” She also accused Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel of being a “private airline minister” and not taking into account the views of other stakeholders.
Citu President, M.K.Pandhe also pledged the support of the trade unions for the travel agents.
Airline companies have told travel agents that they are free to levy transaction charges anywhere between Rs350 to 10,000. But agents say this is something that effectively destroys their source of earnings. The travel service sector employs more than 1 million people and accounts for more than 97% of all air ticket bookings.
20/11/08 Rahul Sharma/Livemint

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2008