SIA fights boycott with online booking

The Indian travel agents' boycott of Singapore Airlines (SIA) over the airline's move to scrap commission on ticket sales continues into its third month.
But SIA remains steadfast in their zero-commission position.
SIA's spokesman told tabla!: "Our stance, that the commission fee model is an outdated one and that transaction fee model works best in a service industry, remains unchanged."
The impact of the boycott has been minimal added the spokesman.
"Indeed, some travel agents have continued to sell tickets on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir."
The airline also said that its Internet bookings had doubled since the boycott but declined to reveal figures.
The six associations behind the boycott - Travel Agents Association of India, Travel Agents Federation of India, Iata Agents Association of India, Indian Association of Tour Operators, Association of Domestic Tour Operators and the Enterprising Travel Agents Association of India - had singled out SIA as it is one of the largest foreign airlines operating in India.
They were confident that if SIA could be forced to restore the 5 per cent commission, the rest of the foreign airlines that had implemented zero commission would follow.
15/03/09 Sheela Narayanan/asiaone travel

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Categories: Foreign Mar 2009, Indian Aviation- In General Mar 2009