abta will fight for sector payments

ABTA aviation board director Sandy MacPherson has pledged Newman Street will step up its fight with British Airways if it axes sector payments.

Commenting on Travel Weekly’s campaign to get agents a fair deal from BA, MacPherson expressed concern that suggestions ABTA was softening its stance could play into BA’s hands.

MacPherson warned: “I assume BA management reads Travel Weekly. If it thinks ABTA is dithering it may think the opportunity exists to risk some unpalatable changes.”

MacPherson pointed out that competition regulations restrict ABTA from encouraging its members to take collective action.

“In that regard, our hands are tied, but in every other respect, ABTA is doing all it can to make the concerns of its members clear to BA,” he said.

MacPherson said Newman Street was close to completing a prima facie case for presentation to the Office of Fair Trading. “While we do not wish to take action, we need to ensure we’re ready if BA does something we can’t live with,” he said.