Travel agents knock on DGCA doors over fees

Mumbai: The two-year old tussle between travel agents and foreign airlines over the issue of zero commission shows no signs of abatement.
In a new development, travel agents have knocked at the door of the directorate general civil aviation (DGCA) once again, complaining about the foreign carriers not responding to DGCA’s communication on the zero commission issue.
Talking to FE , Rajinder Rai, president of the Travel Agents Association of India, said, “We have approached the DGCA saying that foreign airlines have not responded to us. The DGCA has said it will take up the issue with them. Foreign airlines have maintained their indifferent attitude and defied the ruling of DGCA.”
The status quo over the issue continues and has not just caused inconvenience to customers, but also affected the business of many small to medium travel agents in the country. However, when contacted, a British Airways spokesperson, without divulging finer details on the issue said, “We will continue to comply with the DGCA ruling.”
The DGCA, in its March order, had said that all airlines that had gone in for zero commission should move back to the commission-based regime.
24/05/10 Shaheen Mansuri, Shweta Bhanot/Finacial Express

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Categories: Foreign May 2010, Indian Aviation- In General May 2010