29th July 2010

IATA AGENTS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
Central Secretariat
IAAI Bhavan, 39/4012- K & L, Karimpatta Road, Pallimukku, Cochin-682 016

Tel : 0484 3117789 / 4022205 email : president@iaai.in, ceo@iaai.in, hdq@iaai.in | www.iaai.in
IAAI/620-10/NB/COMM
29th July 2010

To : All Travel Agents in India
Dear friends,
Sub: Airlines to make immediate U-turn

Commission to be re-instated – Update- 02 on 29th July 2010

Our e-mail of yesterday has generated heat among all interested, going by the number of calls and reply mails we received. Herewith more details of the situation

IAAI’s fight against the invincible “Zero” Airlines is bound for a win sooner than expected. Reliable sources indicate that foreign Airlines are on the verge of withdrawing “Zero Commission” and “TAP”.
The development follows vigorous action-plans IAAI relentlessly pursue with:

On the Government front, Civil Aviation Authorities are expected to take penal action against “Zero” Airlines for non-compliance of national law. Again Competition Commission of India has been petitioned to take cognizance of anti-competitive practices these Airlines indulge in.

On IATA Int’l front, Regional Directorate, Singapore is foreseen to institute inquiry into unjustifiable executive orders IATA-India implemented beyond their authority.

On the judicial front, Writ petition before High Court of Kerala filed on 1st June and subsequent Petition on 23rd July 2010 had come up for hearing yesterday 28th July. IATA-India has been granted another 1 week to submit written response/affidavit. delay on the part of IATA to respond is some signs of their losing grounds. DGCA’s response in all probability, would go against the Airlines’ dictate since they flout Law of the Land vide their own order dt Mar 5, 2010.

FRIENDS, THIS BATTLE BY IAAI, IS FOR ALL OF US.

IAAI dared it all alone. None of the other Trade Associations joined nor supported IAAI in this issue, much to our dismay.

We still invite them to join our fight simply because we have more to achieve.
We insist on 5% commission, as was there in Oct 2008, a return to STATUS QUO ANTE. And that too with effect from Mar 5, 2010 – retrospectively – which is the date of DGCA order.
In all earnestness, we open wide our hearts’ door for all of you, all associations, every one to join hands in order to claim our due share. For us, paramount is the welfare of Travel Agents and their families as well as the quality service to passengers and Airlines.
Might is not right anymore in our land where rule of law is the order. Glad indeed is that stalwarts of Airlines realize that fact although hesitantly.
Warm Regards

for IAAI National Board

Biji Eapen Naresh Rajkotia V.L.Jaghannathan

President Secretary Treasurer