Travel agents to discuss withdrawal of commission with airlines
08 Jul 2008
Mumbai: Various national travel agents associations have decided to meet airline industry officials and ask them to rethink their decision to withdraw the 5 per cent commission paid to travel agents from October. The decision was arrived at a joint meeting of five travel agents' bodies here on Monday.
"We all are unhappy with the decision as we feel it will be detrimental for the travel industry. So, we have charted out a joint strategy and propose to meet major airlines this week," Travel Agents Association of India president, C Venkateshwara Prasad informed the media after the meeting. "We have a compelling case, and hope that the airlines will see reason," he said.
Prasad said that travel agents were also concerned over the mounting losses of domestic carriers in the wake of the rising air turbine fuel prices. "We think that both (airlines and travel agents) should survive," he said. "Eighty-five per cent of airlines' business comes from travel agents. So we are for a win-win situation for both or at least a situation in which no party stands to lose."
He also revealed that representatives had also met civil aviation minister Praful Patel over the issue. "We explained to him the consequences of the decision," he said.
Those attending the meeting were representatives of Travel Agents Association of India, IATA Agents' Association of India, Travel Agents Federation of India, Indian Association of Travel Operators and Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India.
