ALITALIA, KLM UK and KLM complete the integration of their UK sales forces this Friday.
From April 3, the partners’ Passenger Joint Venture will act as a single point of contact for agents.
All sales, marketing and electronic commerce strategies will be integrated across UK and global networks.
Agents will receive a basic 7% commission rate from the airlines under a scheme unveiled by KLM two years ago. The programme will pay up to 10% for increased sales.
A UKstrategic sales unit has been set up and will be headed by Elisabetta Spagnulo. She will be responsible for increasing premium and leisure traffic to Italy and the Netherlands and on to Alitalia or KLM’s long-haul-flights.
More trade promotions will be rolled out to retailers this year.
Vice-president and area manager for northern Europe Niels Wulff will head the Passenger Joint Venture in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. He will be based in London.
KLM UK director of sales Peter Cornwall will have an expanded role in the new set-up, as passenger sales manager UK for Alitalia Matteo Zanarini is being posted overseas under the joint venture.