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Business travel agents slam IATA
ITM National Conference Special: The business travel sector has been urged to unite behind a crusade to overhaul the outdated rules of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The call comes as the airline body, which governs how a travel agent can sell airline tickets, is said to be costing European businesses millions of pounds each year through cumbersome working procedures. Industry leaders have formed CoCoA – the Coalition of Corporates and Agents – which is in talks with the European Commission in Brussels. American Express director of industry affairs Bernard Harrop, one of the delegation negotiating with the EC, told the Institute of Travel Management conference in South Wales: “The industry is bring governed by an archaic set of rules through IATA. You should have the freedom to run the business as you choose. We want IATA to disengage completely from anything that limits inta-EU business activity,” Talks were progressing well but he urged the sector to step up its lobbying. Under current rules, pan-European business agents have to send bookings back to local markets for ticketing – something Harrop wants to see changed. The delegation is also demanding the introduction of a Europe-wide billing and settlement system which is currently done on a country-by-country basis. In addition, they want to reduce the time it takes to receive IATA accreditation, something that can take up to three months. CoCoA has been formed by representatives from ITM, the Guild of Business Travel Agents and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives. Report by Steve Jones
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