The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has called for a nationwide “shutterdown” today to protest unethical practices by Indian and foreign airlines in a bid to safeguard the interests of the Indian travellers. According to Iqbal Mulla, President, TAAI, several issues are not in favour of the agents and the industry at large. Complete transparency; regulation of airfares; consolidated airfares to include in-flight dining and ancillary services; commissions for agents and a stop put to IATA regulations being implemented without the consent of the Indian government, travel trade associations and consumer forums, were the demands put forward by TAAI.
According to the association, the practices currently followed by airlines will lead to the rooting out of travel agents. Without agents as middlemen, consumers will have to pay 20-30 per cent more; visa, travel insurance and forex will become cumbersome; MICE movements will become difficult to organise and reissues and re-bookings will become difficult for the airlines are not adequately equipped to handle these in large numbers.
TAAI has approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to address these issues. In an attempt to make their voice heard, TAAI has called for a voluntary shutterdown of travel agents in protest. Speaking about the ongoing issue of commission for travel agents, Jay Bhatia, Chairman – Western Region, TAAI stated that, since agents sell the airlines’ itineraries’, remuneration is a fair demand. “We are selling someone else’s products. Travel agents deserve a remuneration rather than the consumer being taxed for this,” added Mulla.
In addition, the new decision for weekly payments has thrown the trade fraternity into turmoil. “Weekly payments on our part are just not possible. Which corporate or customer will pay us so soon? We work about five business days a week, how do we collect the money quickly enough to make weekly payments? We have taken this issue up with the Agency Programme Joint Council (APJC)” stated Mulla.
According to Mulla, the shutterdown is just the first step in the protest. Following this if there is no action, they will take their protest further. “We have not made the shutterdown compulsory. We have asked whoever wants to join us in the protest to shut down for the day. Even the other associations have lent us their support,” concluded Mulla.
