AGENTS who belong to the Campaign for Real Travel Agents could face being thrown out of the group if they have signed for the Airtours franchise.
A handful of the 100 CARTA members who belong to Advantage are believed to have supported the Airtours alliance and agreed to push the operator.
CARTA will meet this week to discuss whether the deal will compromise their membership of CARTA.
Chairman Chris Kirker refused to pre-empt any discussion, although he admitted one of the membership criteria was that CARTA agents must remain independent from mainstream tour operators.
But sources said it would be highly unlikely franchise that members will be allowed to remain in the group.
Kirker said Advantage has confirmed that franchisees can sell a full range of independent operators, another of the criterias for CARTA membership.
“CARTA agents must support members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators which they will still be able to do,” said Kirker.