Rule changes planned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) this month will “provide a number of improvements” for agents, delegates at the ECTAA bi-annual meeting in Lisbon were told.
The changes to be considered by IATA's decision making body, the Passenger Agency Conference (PAConf) included European-wide accreditation, the re-inforcement of agents' rights to be heard in procedures and the cross border use of tickets stocks.
Representatives of more than 28 European agents' association, and tour operators, mainly from the leisure sector, were also told that ECTAA had requested improvements on rules on the issuing, processing and dispute procedure for Agency Debit Memos (ADMs).
The changes have been the subject of talks between IATA, ECTAA, GEBTA, representing business travel agents, and the EC for more than two years.
But the conference also discussed progress on ECTAA/GEBTA's feasibility study for its own accreditation and settlement project, which would provide agents with a settlement function for all tourism services.
This could be brought in if PAConf rule changes do not meet with ECTAA/GEBTA hopes. Members reconfirmed their support for the study.
Virgin reports profit
Virgin Atlantic reported pre-tax profits of £68m for the year ending February 28, 2005 on a turnover of £1.6bn.
It compares with a profit of £20.9m for the financial year 2003-2004 and is the highest the carrier has enjoyed since 1999.
A statement said the result was achieved against a background of overcapacity on routes across the North Atlantic, soaring fuel prices and slow economic recovery.
Chairman Sir Richard Branson said surcharges had only covered one third of the £60m extra in fuel costs.
He said the airline was committed to “innovation, investment and growth” and planned to grow this year by 10% through expanding its fleet and adding new destinations, including Mumbai, Cuba and the Bahamas in 2005 and Dubai and Montego Bay, Jamaica in 2006.