News

ABTA and British Airways have reached an uneasy stalemate while the airline finalises plans to cut agent booking payments.

BA retail sales manager Carol Dray will meet Newman Street for an update on BA’s progress today, but ABTA aviation board director Sandy MacPherson said the meeting would only offer a ‘feeling’ for how the carrier was leaning.

A final decision on whether to cut booking payments on short-haul tickets or slash all payments to £5 per return fare is likely to come in the first week of next month, he said.

“Our submission to the Office of Fair Trading has been prepared, but we are waiting to see what BA comes up with before we act,” he said.

“Until BA yields a bit more information it’s difficult for us to make a decision about how to proceed, but it should know we will rigorously defend the livelihood of agents in this country.”

Meanwhile, BA chairman Lord Marshall told Travel Weekly his airline sees Future Size and Shape as a clean sheet of paper.

He warned: “There are implications for all BA’s relationships, people and departments. Rod Eddington is looking at everything, but I do not know what will happen yet.”

Lord Marshall confirmed the outcome of the review would be made clear next month.