Over 3,000 travel agents across the country will voluntarily shut shop tomorrow in order to protest against the zero commission policy followed by airlines and range of other issues affecting their business and threatening their survival like the impending Weekly Settlement system, disparity in fares etc. According to Iqbal Mulla, the call for voluntary nationwide ‘shutter down’ for a day by the TAAI Managing Committee tomorrow is not only expected to receive good response from TAAI members but has also found support from other travel trade associations like TAFI, IAAI, IATO, ADTOI etc.
“Travel agents are an integral part of the travel and tourism industry and play an important role in fostering tourism and hence increasing the GDP of the country. Agents are an important marketing and distribution arm of the airlines as they account for nearly 80 per cent of airline tickets sales. Agents need to be remunerated for their services and commissions is our legitimate right as per Indian Aircraft Act 1935.
We want airlines to give 5 per cent commission on total airfare including taxes,” stated Mulla at a press conference in Mumbai earlier today to highlight the issues faced by the agents’ community and their planned protest tomorrow. A similar press conference was also held in New Delhi. Rajji Rai, Former President, TAAI while addressing the media in Delhi said that around 65 per cent of travel agencies across the country will shut shop tomorrow. When quizzed about the impact of the shut down by agents, Rai said that it is likely to result in an estimated loss of 40 crore for airlines. “The protest will highlight the issues faced by the agents and sensitize government and the airlines following the zero commission policy,” stated Rai.