Date:27/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/27/stories/2008082750860200.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Travel agents take out march to AI office

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hundreds of International Air Transport Association (IATA) agents, recruiting agents and tour operators took out a march to the Air India (AI) office here on Tuesday in protest against the decision to abolish the commission given by airline companies to approved agents for ticket sales from November 1.

The march was taken out from Sasthamangalam junction to the Air India office at Vellayambalam under the banner of the Travel-Tourism Coordination Forum. Later, a dharna was held in front of the Air India office.

Inaugurating the dharna, Varkala Radhakrishnan, MP, said the issue would be taken up with the Union government. The commission given to the travel agents should be enhanced, he said. Panniyan Ravindran, MP, and BJP leader O. Rajagopal, forum chairman E.M. Najeeb and general convener K.V. Muraleedharan spoke. Travel and tourism agency offices downed shutters from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.