Arbitrators Void ARC Fee Hikes for Agencies, CTDs

An Independent Arbitration Panel ruling on Thursday voided the Airlines Reporting Corporation's planned 2008 fee increases for travel agencies and corporate travel departments. "The IAP finds that ARC has not met its burden of proof to show that the new annual administrative fees adopted by ARC on Dec. 6, 2007, represent a fair allocation of costs between carriers and agents," the panel ruled on an appeal filed seven months ago by the American Society of Travel Agents.