Travel Republic chief executive Kane Pirie has stepped down from the Abta board just days after a new Association of Travel Agents (ATA) held its first meeting.
Pirie, who joined the board in 2010 as a non-elected director, has been a key player in the formation of the ATA, which will lobby on behalf of online and high street agents.
Abta chairman John McEwan said Pirie (pictured) stepped down for personal reasons and that his decision was not linked to the ATA.
He said Pirie would continue to work with Abta on a policy group advising on reform of the European Package Travel Directive (PTD).
“Kane has brought valuable insight into the status of online travel agents and made a great contribution on a wide range of issues,” said McEwan.
“It’s encouraging to know he is still going to be actively involved in the advisory group.”
An Abta spokeswoman said a possible replacement for Pirie could be discussed at the next board meeting at the end of November.
It is understood about 12 agencies and agency groups attended last week’s ATA meeting, but the group has made no public comment about what was discussed or agreed.
Bill Munro, Barrhead Travel chairman, who was linked to the chairmanship of the ATA, said a statement would be released next week.
One member of the ATA told Travel Weekly that the group planned to join the European Technology and Travel Services Association, which promotes the interests of GDSs and travel distributors, but Munro later denied this.
Abta endured heavy criticism at the recent Travel Convention from online agents who claimed to have been unaware that Abta was lobbying for the PTD to cover Flight-Plus bookings.
Pirie could not be contacted for comment.