Date:14/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/14/stories/2005031400851300.htm

Back Southern travel agents to protest AI cut in commission

Our Bureau

Chennai , March 13

TRAVEL agents in the southern region are returning all promotional materials such as the Maharaja, model aircraft, cutouts, brochures and posters to Air India in protest against the reduction in airline commission.

On Monday, members of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) are assembling in front of the Air India office in Chennai to make a token protest against the reduction of airline commission from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Mr N.R. Kumarswamy, Chairman, TAAI Southern Region said.

They will also be wearing black badges as a token of protest.

The agents are not returning ticket stock as yet, he said. But a decision on this will be taken later this month, Mr Kumarswamy said.

The national carrier has informed the travel agents that the reduction in commission will be effective from May 1. The move to reduce agency commission is not a new one. Last year, Lufthansa also made a move to reduce the commission but was not successful, as there was resistance to this move.