Unsatisfaction is rising within the travel agents’ Community on IATA issues. The recently announced fee increases and the intention to introduce global financial criteria for IATA accredited agents are making their teeth grind. 

The 31 national associations of travel agents represented within the European umbrella organisation ECTAA met in Dubrovnik for their 104th bi-annual meeting beginning of December. Croatia is ECTAA’s preferred destination for 2011 and ECTAA is pleased to see that Croatia has reported a significant increase in tourist arrivals in the first three quarters of 2011 compared to the same period last year.

ECTAA Members discussed recent developments in the IATA Passenger Agency Programme. The agent Community is exasperated by IATA’s decision to adjust its fees globally to the Swiss Franc, which exchange rate has been exceptionally high in the last months. This will result in fee increases which are not justified by any value proposition or better service.

Agents are also deeply concerned about IATA’s project to set global financial criteria to hold an IATA accreditation. This is likely to make the requirements to hold an IATA accreditation even more burdensome. It would undermine the outcomes of the complaint lodged by ECTAA against IATA in 2002 before the European Commission concerning onerous requirements in the Passenger Agency Programme. ECTAA has decided to report its concerns to the European Commission Directorate General for Competition.

Said President of ECTAA: “Considering the shrinking number of accredited agents  in Europe, it is time that IATA rethinks its strategy, rather than making the Programme more onerous and expensive for agents”.