In order to acquaint each travel agent with the latest trends in the ticketing process, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is organising a series of IATA-BSP (Billing and Settlement Plan) training sessions across all its chapters. These training programmes were initiated post a decision of the TAAI management committee at a recently held meeting.
The IATA-BSP training session which is now a nation-wide initiative of TAAI will be organised at regular intervals. With the boom in aviation industry over the last decade, travel agents in India are enhancing their skills to be a value-add for the consumers and also to extend assistance to foreign tourists who are travelling to India.
The Andhra Pradesh Chapter of TAAI conducted the IATA-BSP training session for all its associates yesterday to create awareness on the latest developments in BSP. Krishnan, Head-Southern Region for BSP and Krishnan, Branch Manager- Southern Region, IATA (India) conducted the session which will help the employees of travel agencies who handle the ticketing process to serve their customers better. The training covered topics related to BSP procedures and BSP-Link training.
Similar workshops for the Northern Chapters have been held successfully with positive responses emerging from the members who have attended these sessions. TAAI, an active body wants to strengthen its members with the latest developments in the travel industry in order to offer the best in the market to their customers.
TravelBizMonitor
Showing posts with label IATA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IATA. Show all posts
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
NEWS| IATA welcomes the passing of AERA bill
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the passing of the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) bill by both houses of the Indian Parliament. Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO said, “AERA has an important role to play. Now that the parliament has approved, there is no time to waste in quickly setting-up and staffing the agency.”
AERA’s role is to ensure that India’s aviation infrastructure meets cost-efficiency and service-level targets with charging policies in line with ICAO principles.
Bisignani said, “Timing is critical. First, the industry crisis makes cost-efficiency throughout the value chain more important than ever. And second, the increased role of private-public partnerships for infrastructure developments requires both solid ground rules and the ability to enforce them.”
Bisignani said,“ICAO principles call for transparency, non-discrimination and user-consultation. Even though India has a seat on the ICAO Council, today many of these principles are being ignored back in Delhi. There is a big gap to cover with little or no transparency in charges and differential pricing practices. Our best estimate is that the air navigation service provider over-collects by 20%. And the 33% price differential for international landings has no cost justification.”
Bisignani also reiterated the need for reasonable taxation in India. Bisignani said, “The global crisis in aviation is deepening. India is one of the epicenters with potential losses of USD1.5 billion this year. AERA is a step in the right direction, but it is only part of the solution. To help reverse the state of the Indian air transport sector, we need a comprehensive policy approach in addition to establishing AERA. The most urgent is to address taxation, which is crippling the industry.”
Bisignani said, “The service tax on premium class tickets, air navigation charges, and landing & parking charges is contrary to ICAO’s resolution calling for a reduction of taxes. Taxing overflight charges also breaches India’s international obligations.”
Bisignani said, “We welcome and commend the Ministry of Finance for scrapping the 5% import duty on fuel, and hope the Ministry will quickly address all the other taxation issues, including the 8% excise duty. State governments must also understand that the situation is desperate, and deliver a fair solution on the excessive sales tax, which is as high as 30%. If not, they will need to share responsibility for the broader economic consequences of a failing industry.”
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation
AERA’s role is to ensure that India’s aviation infrastructure meets cost-efficiency and service-level targets with charging policies in line with ICAO principles.
Bisignani said, “Timing is critical. First, the industry crisis makes cost-efficiency throughout the value chain more important than ever. And second, the increased role of private-public partnerships for infrastructure developments requires both solid ground rules and the ability to enforce them.”
Bisignani said,“ICAO principles call for transparency, non-discrimination and user-consultation. Even though India has a seat on the ICAO Council, today many of these principles are being ignored back in Delhi. There is a big gap to cover with little or no transparency in charges and differential pricing practices. Our best estimate is that the air navigation service provider over-collects by 20%. And the 33% price differential for international landings has no cost justification.”
Bisignani also reiterated the need for reasonable taxation in India. Bisignani said, “The global crisis in aviation is deepening. India is one of the epicenters with potential losses of USD1.5 billion this year. AERA is a step in the right direction, but it is only part of the solution. To help reverse the state of the Indian air transport sector, we need a comprehensive policy approach in addition to establishing AERA. The most urgent is to address taxation, which is crippling the industry.”
Bisignani said, “The service tax on premium class tickets, air navigation charges, and landing & parking charges is contrary to ICAO’s resolution calling for a reduction of taxes. Taxing overflight charges also breaches India’s international obligations.”
Bisignani said, “We welcome and commend the Ministry of Finance for scrapping the 5% import duty on fuel, and hope the Ministry will quickly address all the other taxation issues, including the 8% excise duty. State governments must also understand that the situation is desperate, and deliver a fair solution on the excessive sales tax, which is as high as 30%. If not, they will need to share responsibility for the broader economic consequences of a failing industry.”
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation