Airline to waive service charges
By SOMAN BABY
A UAE airline has no plans in the near future to implement a zero per cent commission for Bahrain's travel agents, it was revealed yesterday.
Emirates has requested travel agents not to add any service charges to their tickets sold to customers, said the airline's area manager Mohammed Bin Ghannam.
Most of the airlines scrapped the five pc travel agents' commission with effect from April 1.
It was replaced by the service charge on all tickets issued by the airlines.
This means customers could be paying two pc more for their tickets.
Agents party to the scheme have each paid a BD5,000 deposit, which they risk losing if they are caught discounting, said sources.
The decision to introduce a zero pc commission in the Bahrain market was taken earlier this year by the Board of Airlines Representatives (BAR), which is chaired by national carrier Gulf Air.
The Association of Bahrain Travel and Tours Agents (Abtta) welcomed the decision, saying it would benefit both the airlines and the travel agents.
All the airlines, except two or three including Emirates, have agreed to this decision.
Mr Ghannam said it was Emirates' network wide decision not to follow a zero per cent commission practice.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=141608&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29033
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