ABTA aviation
chief Sandy MacPherson has urged the trade to accept the airline commission
debate is dead and start concentrating on the future.
MacPherson,
one of the most vocal opponents of airlines reducing commission, said agents
are wasting their time trying to persuade British Airways and other carriers to
go back to paying 9%.
He
said: “Maybe we have come to the point where we should just draw a line under
it and move on because we have to realise the days of 9% are long gone.
“We
can’t be seen to be dinosaurs and have to take a step back and realise the
world is changing. We don’t want to be left behind.
“It’s
time we re-engineered our businesses and concentrated on persuading the market
to accept fees.”
BA
head of UK and Ireland sales Tiffany Hall received a rough ride from delegates
and panel members during the opening session of the ABTA Convention in Palma
because of the airline’s treatment of the trade.
She
told delegates: “I don’t think anyone would have predicted the growth of the
low-costs. We are under pressure to offer low prices and to do that, we have to
cut costs.”
But
Midconsort chief executive Charles Eftichou said: “If people don’t like BA,
they should switch-sell and look at alternatives to show them there are other
ways.”