ABTA aviation board director Sandy MacPherson has
pledged Newman Street will step up its fight with British Airways if it axes
sector payments.
Commenting on Travel Weekly’s campaign to get agents a
fair deal from BA, MacPherson expressed concern that suggestions ABTA was
softening its stance could play into BA’s hands.
MacPherson warned: “I assume BA management reads
Travel Weekly. If it thinks ABTA is dithering it may think the opportunity
exists to risk some unpalatable changes.”
MacPherson pointed out that competition regulations
restrict ABTA from encouraging its members to take collective action.
“In that regard, our hands are tied, but in every
other respect, ABTA is doing all it can to make the concerns of its members
clear to BA,” he said.
MacPherson said Newman Street was close to completing
a prima facie case for presentation to the Office of Fair Trading. “While we do
not wish to take action, we need to ensure we’re ready if BA does something we
can’t live with,” he said.