| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 04/09/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 5 |
| Copyright: Other |
Airline starts business salestraining series
BRITISH Airways has kicked off its first series of training sessions with business travel agents who have signed sales and marketing agreements with the airline.The airline has identified its top 56 business agents, including London-based Ayscough Travel, who from now until next March will receive up to 700 hours of training.
The airline’s leisure agents will receive training sessions later in the year. BA introduced sales and marketing agreements for agents in March this year after the European Union ruled that previous agreements had been unlawful.
The terms of the partnerships require that BAtrains agents who deliver a minimum level of business to the airline.
New agreements between BA and agents will be introduced next year in line with the airline’s remuneration scheme for retailers.
Business agents will receive training on selling skills, how to cope in difficult situations and teamwork. Leisure agents will be offered self-study product courses relating to the airline and its destinations.
A BA spokeswoman said: “We expect 8,000 front-line and account management business agency staff to be trained by March next year.”