AVIANCA Airlines has reported a sharp rise in sales after increasing agents commission from 9% to 15% last April.
The Colombian carrier said overall sales had risen 11% since it increased payments in April, with January’s bookings 82% up on January last year.
UK and Ireland sales and marketing manager John O’Reilly said the extra revenue was also due to improved connections for UK operators at Avianca’s Bogota hub.
“We have doubled the number of operators taking seat allocations throughout this year and are experiencing a rapid rise in the popularity of Latin America as a long-haul destination,” he said.
O’Reilly said increased capacity on connecting flights to Ecuador capital Quito and Peru’s Lima from Bogota was also proving successful with UK operators.
Avianca serves Bogota with three weekly flights from Heathrow. Flights depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The increased commission is applicable on return flights with Avianca. Fares lead in at £380 return to Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Panama. This ticket, the Vamos pex fare, requires a minimum seven-day stay up to a maximum of 45 days.
The airline also offers agents the chance to sell its Discover Colombia pass at £112 for five internal flights, which is commissionable at 9%.
Avianca has just finished refurbishing its cabins on ex-Heathrow Boeing 767s in a further effort to improve UK bookings.
The improvements come as British Airways and Oneworld partner Iberia step up their South American alliance from the UK with joint flights through Madrid.
Partner American Airlines is also improving South American connections from its US hubs.