| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 12/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 2 |
| Copyright: Other |
Emirates on brink of zero commission
EMIRATES has joined a growing band of airlines poised to follow British Airways’ decision to introduce zero commission.The United Arab Emirates airline will study the impact of BA’s plan to axe commission in January next year to see if it should follow suit.
Emirates sales manager UK and Ireland Vic Sheppard said:”We will follow BA after about six months, if its scheme goes well.”
BA will pay agents a fee for each sector booked and encourage them to charge a service fee. Emirates is likely to follow this route.
Other major carriers, including Air France, are set to scrap commission next year if the BA plan is embraced by agents.
Carriers stand to save millions of pounds in distribution costs by axing commission. Savings will be ploughed into enhancing direct-sell Web sites, including extranet links direct to corporate clients for bookings.
n See Aviation, page 25