CROSSAIR has become the latest Qualiflyer airline to cut basic commission to 7%.
The Swiss airline will follow its majority shareholder Swissair and four other Qualiflyer carriers and cut payments back from 9% on July 1.
Crossair sales manager UK and Ireland Trevor Manwaring said the airline had to act as part of the group.
Speaking at the opening of the Qualiflyer call centre in London, Manwaring said: “This move simplifies the payment process.”
Qualiflyer founders Swissair, Austrian Airlines, Sabena, TAPAir Portugal and Lauda Air cut rates earlier in the month and brought in a sliding-scale of payments (Travel Weekly June 7).
Swissair general manager UK and Ireland Kirk Albrow said 20% of agents would still receive 9%, but a third would have to survive on 7%.
Albrow said: “Once United cut commission, we had to do it to remain competitive. We are basing payments on an individual agent’s past performance.”
Meanwhile, Swissair executive vice-president sales and marketing Lee Shave has indicated Qualiflyer airlines will cut staff when they move into a joint-London office later this year.
He said: “There will be overlaps and we will be looking at any synergies.”
The group will move airline sales, marketing and finance teams into the office, inevitably leading to crossovers.
Meanwhile, Qualiflyer is planning to open other call centres worldwide. The facilities deal with reservations and enquiries.
The group is also looking at further network co-ordination.