After several years of online agencies leading growth in air ticket sales, the last few months show a distinct decline for the online sector.
While I doubt it will ever happen (years ago I put some effort into it, all for naught), the airlines could make life for TMCs, travelers and travel managers a lot less complicated and much more efficient were they (by guiding approval through the Airlines Reporting Corp. and International Air Transport Association) to allow a service fee to made a part of the ticket. Their mantra has been "we don't want anyone messing with the price of our ticket," but that is flawed reasoning.
Finding that "no alternative to the current settlement system as provided by the Airlines Reporting Corp. was feasible unless accepted by all major air carriers," the American Society of Travel Agents' task force investigating the potential for an
alternate airline ticket settlement system has "held its last meeting," ASTA said.
According to ASTA President and CEO Cheryl Hudak, "The current system is untenable and yet there is no viable alternative. ARC is a monopoly--it has no competition and accordingly there are no options."
These have been busy days for the public relations department at the Airlines Reporting Corp. Since the beginning of the month, the organization announced the next step in its partnership with the International Air Transport Association, enhancements to its data reporting product, volume-based incentives for airlines and a 4 percent cut in personnel.
