|
IAAI/308-14/PST/IATA/APJC/CIR
14th May 2014
To: All IAAI Members & Trade Partners
Dear All,
Sub : Reconstitution of APJC – India as per PAConf new Guideline
The ignorance of IATA rules and regulations among a vast majority of travel agents has been the main cause for the present situation wherein, the vested interests have succeeded in bringing in policies which are detrimental for the survival of small and medium Travel Agents. It is a matter of record that Agents’ Representatives in the APJC- India viz TAAI & TAFI have given the green signal for weekly payment effective from 1st Jan 2014, at the extra ordinary APJC meeting held on 3rd September 2013, which was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
The present Agents, Representatives in APJC – India are not unaware that it will take a re-constituted APJC India under 818g to pass necessary resolutions to revert from weekly to fortnightly payment system. But they have conveniently turned a deaf ear to the repeated requests of IAAI to reconstitute APJC – India with equitable representation from all the three National Associations, for reasons best known to them.
This impervious and adamant stance by our own representatives is sure to wipe out the ordinary travel agents in India soon, unless we the ordinary travel agents compel them to change this rigid and detrimental stand and bring in the much needed change by reconstituting the APJC. It is therefore necessary that we support every initiative in this regard.
Fortunately, we have a very positive development now. The IATA Passenger Agency Programme has issued a Quick Reference Guide, January 2014 Edition regarding the Governance Structure of APJCs as well as PROCEDURE for establishing new APJCs upon migration to 818g. The new guide line under Appendix F, for establishing an APJC and the Membership selection of agent representatives defines:
“ If there is more than one national Agents’ Association in the market, establish the number of agent representative required from each, taking into consideration the number of Accredited Agents in each Association”. And the authority is absolutely vested with IATA local/ regional office.
Taking cognizance of the new Passenger Agency Programme directives, IAAI have approached IATA Country Director Mr Amitab Khosla and APJC India Chairman Mr. Pankaj Sreevastava to shoulder the responsibility to re-constitute APJC-India and ensure clarity, transparency and fair play. This entails that
Ø India has to be codified under the new governance of 818g.
Ø APJC membership shall be increased to 18 and the Chairman should be elected from them.
Ø Travel Trade should have equitable representation with 3 members each from TAAI, TAFI & IAAI
Also, we have advised IATA to adopt neutral stance to all the 3000 IATA agents in India, spread across 3 national associations. Whether Agents hold single membership or multiple memberships is immaterial, but IATA only needs to ensure that the whole travel agent community is represented in APJC – India and no single segment is left out.
Friends, IAAI would like to assure all of you, that, once the APJC-India is reconstituted as per above requirements, our first agenda will be to reverse weekly payment and with the concurrence and support of TAAI and TAFI ,we shall be able to revert to fort-nightly payment in India.
Regards,
For IAAI Board of Directors
Biji Eapen D.L. Jekannathan S.Saldanha
National President General Secretary National Treasurer
|
You are subscribed as aal...@hotmail.com. Unsubscribe Forward This Page Print