p4 News Feb6 4/2/09 21:21 Page 4
news
06.02.2009
TTA yet to make
Regulators urged
Triton decision
TRITON BOSSES were still waiting to hear if
to ease demands
the Travel Trust Association had accepted its
invitation to join the super-consortium as TTG
went to press this week.
TTG reporters.
its financial exposure, he said it had
Although a decision had been expected last INDUSTRY regulators who are step- resulted in financially sound firms
Friday, no announcement had been made by ping up their financial demands on
C
O
being asked to bond. However, only
Wednesday despite sources close to the negotia- travel firms to reduce their exposure
STO
VER
one of four recommended bond
tions indicating TTA was unlikely to join. in the event of collapses are being
R
Y providers, Advantage Financial Ser-
The delay suggested the TTA was still seriously urged to give companies some slack. vices, will now issue Iata-only bonds.
considering the offer, described by one source as With credit card companies and banks “We want Iata to be more realistic
the “most lucrative” Triton has tabled. already squeezing firms (TTG January 30), Iata about things. It’s about understanding, being
A snub by the TTA would spark a review of the and the CAA have been criticised this week for flexible and not quite so rigid,” said Gage.
Triton project, originally set up as a collaboration piling on further demands. Doreen McKenzie, chair of Abta’s aviation
between Global Travel Group, Worldchoice and Chris Photi, a director of International Rescue, committee, said there was concern agents were
Advantage. The latter left last year. which specialises in saving struggling businesses, going to be asked to increase frequency of settle-
Worldchoice, which TTA bought in September, warned that the authorities were tightening the ment payments to Iata, hitting cashflows.
is known to have already been investigating screws to such an extent they would put many FTO director-general Andy Cooper said he told
potential destinations and timings for reinstating companies out of business. the CAA that more companies should have been
its own standalone overseas conference this year. “The government and other bodies in various required to pay APC monthly instead of just the
areas have responded to the credit crunch by largest 50. This, he said, would have reduced
giving people some slack while they get used to Atol’s exposure to firms that pay quarterly
the new world,” he said. “But in the travel indus- building up a large number of bookings.
try, the CAA, Iata and credit card acquirers don’t
seem to be applying the same strategy – if
anything, they are going the other way.” Financial protection: Representatives from the
Norman Gage, Advantage’s business travel CAA, Abta, the FTO, Advantage, Thomas Cook
director, said Iata’s “zero tolerance” policy was and Tui Travel will debate financial protection
starting to hurt members. Although this was at a briefing in London on Tuesday
designed to protect Iata from fraud and reduce
Unions attack BMI
Abta slams Iata
company name or location, from January 1.
Doreen McKenzie, chairman of Abta’s aviation
committee, said any changes should have been
THE BRITISH Airline Pilots’ Association is to join
with German, Austrian, Swiss and Belgian unions for fee increase
approved by an APJC committee of Iata accred-
ited agents and airlines.
to put pressure on BMI’s parent company, Abta’s aviation committee and 20 Advantage
Lufthansa Group, over its pay dispute. ABTA is calling on Iata to scrap agents were due to meet Iata
The union is considering legal and industrial an increase in charges for representatives on Thursday,
action against BMI in the dispute over a pay agents registering changes to and McKenzie said they were
increase that was due to start this month, but their businesses, claiming they calling for the hikes to be axed.
which BMI scrapped because of the downturn. were imposed without proper Agents who were asked to pay
Balpa claimed BMI paid pilots and then took consultation. the higher fees in the meantime
money out of their accounts. Iata has introduced increases should contact Abta, she said.
BMI denies the accusation. of up to 35% for the fees,
which are payable for changes ■ Iata brands APD ‘aviation’s
■ Aviation news, p32 of ownership, shareholdings, Doreen McKenzie: no consultation worst nightmare’: Air, p32
04 06.02.2009
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