Lufthansa Airlines

25
Sep

Lufthansa Airlines

DGCA holds meet of foreign airlines, travel agents

The rift between foreign airlines operating in the country and travel agents over commission payments seems to be coming to an end with the DGCA today holding a meeting of their representatives to finalise the government's stand on the issue.

The meeting came in the backdrop of a Kerala High Court directive to ensure commissions for the agents from this month-end and the Karnataka High Court wanting the foreign airlines to explain their position regarding the global norms of the issue, including that decided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

While the airlines have been insisting on the 'zero commission' concept which is now in vogue in most of the western nations, travel agents have been arguing that no commission payment would starve small and medium agencies which are already hit by the economic meltdown and sharp decline in air travel.

In a global recession, foreign carriers will look at any opportunity where they can make a bit of money

Since late last year, about 16 foreign airlines that included Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, North West Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines and United Airlines reduced commission for travel agents to 0%. In the suit filed in HC, Travel Agents Association of India had alleged that these airlines were misinterpreting an IATA resolution and saying payment of 0% commission was well within the meaning of paying some commission.

The airline industry globally is in such a bad shape that they really don't see much value. Airlines will now think twice or thrice to offer commission payments to travel agents as they feel the heat of global meltdown.

“There has been already a sharp fall in travel agents in India with IATA accreditation and if now zero commission concept gets approval will affect more small and media travel agencies in India” said Onestopshop Retail service official

About the Author

i am Seo expert

im flying on LUFTHANSA AIRLINES from Chicago to Frankfurt,Germany do they have tv screens on the back of seats

like personal tvs in front of you?

I've flown with lufthansa as well as us airways a lot since i am from Germany and always go to the Frankfurt airport. Unfortunately i have to say that only one of the dozens of Lufthansa flights ive been on had the personal tv's. Us airways has a tendency of around 20% of the time getting a personal tv. Nonetheless, i have found and concluded that even though perhaps with us airways u get the tvs, the lufthansa personel is 1000 times nice, the food is brilliant and you actually get real metal utensils. I also think that the ones with the tvs have them taken out (except for buissness class) because of rising fuel prices, and the tvs add a lot of extra weight which makes the airplane burn more fuel. Anyways i'm going to have to say that theres a 99% chance that you will not have the tvs, but really if you just bring something to read or entertain yourself you should be fine as well. P.S. the lufthansa seats are also A LOT more comfortable. Hope this helps and have a good flight!
Cheers

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