The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has swooped on Mas Travel, an Oxford travel agent believed to have sold up to £1m worth of airline tickets illegally.
Airlines told Travel Weekly Mas Travel was issuing tickets on behalf of 15 leading carriers, including BMI and Asiana Airlines, without their knowledge. It was advertising cheap air fares, taking money from consumers but allegedly failed to pass the cash on to the airlines.
When IATA became aware of the concerns it switched off the agency’s machines and swooped on its offices. How-ever, the owners had already left and are now believed to be in Pakistan.
BMI admitted it had been affected. The airline said it will honour all bookings but refused to reveal the value of tickets the agency had issued. “It’s now in the hands of IATA and the police,” a BMI spokesman said.
Asiana Airlines’ sales and marketing director James Blake said the airline was currently contacting the agency’s customers to tell them what has happened. As Travel Weekly went to press Asiana Airlines had yet to decide if it would honour the bookings.
Disgruntled Mas Travel customers have posted their complaints on an online blog. One claimed the agency had been mistakenly cancelling airline tickets, forcing customers to buy replacements at a higher cost.
The agency’s phone line has an answer phone message telling clients it has now closed. It asks callers to leave their name and number, however the message box is full.
An IATA spokesman said “IATA can confirm it is investigating the activities of the said agent and is working closely with the police on the matter.”