Agents-Sing Air fight intensifies

Mumbai: The travel agents' dissent with Singapore Airlines over payment of commission intensified, with the agents' associations deciding to return their authority to issue its tickets, while also punishing members who issue them.
About 1,000 of the 1,350 registered International Air Travel Association (IATA) agents who can issue Singapore Airlines tickets have surrendered their authority. The associations are persuading the remaining 350 to follow suit.
However, the possibility of an indefinite strike against all international carriers, which are following Singapore Airline in not giving them 5% commission, was ruled out by two unions, the Travel Agents Association of India (Taai) and Travel Agents Fraternity of India (Tafi).
"We are talking to the remaining agents, persuading them to be a part of the protest and those who still agree to issue Singapore Airlines tickets will be boycotted," said Ajay Prakash, national secretary, Tafi. "Once an association boycotts an agent, the agent will not be admitted to any associations hereafter and a resolution has already been taken on this," he added.
The six travel agents associations, including Taai, Tafi and IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) have 2,876 IATA registered agents.
09/04/09 Archana Shukla/Daily News & Analysis

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