Butchers of Sopore and Birmingham

Nine years of calm before icy storm

Kashmir turns crimson with blood of Pandits

AN UN-ISLAMIC KIDNAPPING AND CHAOS IN THE VALLEY

The illusion of azaadi and Kashmir’s historic deception

How Pak's terror policy evolved in Kashmir

Birth of social media jihadists, death of Article-370

Operation Sindoor: When Indian missiles rained on Pak terror parade

<div class='ite_mg_banner ads__container'><div class='it_mg_bnrBox'><div class='ite_bnr_cont'><div class='ite_cont_dtl'> <h4>Subscribe to India Today Print + Digital. Your First Month Is On Us. <span class='bold_text'> ₹299/month</span> thereafter. Cancel anytime.</h4><a href='https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriptions.intoday.in%2Findiatoday%3Futm_source%3Dtop-web-banner ' class='ite_subscribe_btn origin_conscent_url' target='_blank'>SUBSCRIBE</a></div></div></div></div>

US Election coverage

India

World

NewsMo

Fact Check

Programmes

Match Schedule

Teams

Player Stats

Match Report

LIVE SCORES

<div class="itg-mosimage"><amp-img src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F1981November%2Ffare-1_102813122807.jpg" alt="" height="425" width="650" class="" layout="responsive"></amp-img>Welinkar: Speaking for travel agents<p>'Don't fly British Airways' could well be the slogan of the Travel Agents Association of lndia (TAAI). The association, which represents International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved agents, has stopped selling British Airways (BA) tickets and has written to the airline asking it to take back its ticket stocks.<br><br>But the TAAI's unprecedented boycott is not directed solely against BA - it is also intended as notice to all international airlines that it is fed up of the discriminatory rules which allow the airlines' general sales agents (GSA) the possibility of offering bigger discounts on air tickets.<br><br>By a strange twist the BA boycott was provoked by Sita Travels, one of the most prominent members of TAAI. Last month Sita deserted the anti-GSA crusade, of which it had been one of the prime movers, and allowed Indrama, a fully owned subsidiary, to sign a GSA agreement with BA. Other travel agents were particularly incensed by Sita's defection.<br><br>They were also worried that the trend may spread to other airlines who may decide to appoint travel agents as GSA's, hurting the travel trade. Said Paul de Bernier, a member of the TAAI managing committee: "The fundamental reason for the boycott is that Sita and Indrama are too closely linked. This is practically the same thing as appointing an IATA agent as a general sales agent."<br><br><b>Root</b>: At the root of the dispute is the whole concept of the GSA and the arcane rules which govern the travel business. The practice of appointing GSA's was started in the late '60s by Lufthansa, and Air France which offered discounts of up to 27 per cent. They were soon joined by other airlines.<br><br>The GSA was originally meant to supplement airline activities outside metropolitan areas where the airlines did not have their own offices or were inadequately represented. The GSA's are today allowed a higher commission of 12 per cent as against the 9 per cent which travel agents are allowed.<br><br>What happened in actual fact was that the agents were appointed for smaller towns and cities but they set up what they called "camp" offices in metropolitan areas, thus cutting into the business of the travel agents. The problem was further complicated in the late '70s, when the airlines, which had just introduced the new family of wide-bodied jets and were desperate for new customers, brought in a whole range of concessional fares. This further reduced the business of travel agents.<br><br>Travel agents gripe that they have to operate under other disadvantages. Says C.S. Welinkar, chairman TAAI, northern India: "We have to represent all the airlines and look after the interests of the passenger. The GSA, on the other hand, only represents one airline and only has to look after its interests." In addition, the GSA's have formed consortiums enabling them to hawk any airline ticket in contravention of airline rules.<br><br>Three years ago, the airlines got together with the stated intention of ending undercutting. The Board of Airlines Representatives (BAR India), with a membership of 13 airlines, signed a declaration that they would clean up the market. But with the severe competition they soon forgot their good resolutions. Says Welinkar: "No sooner had they signed the agreement than they went back to their old practices."<br><br><b><div class="itg-mosimage"><amp-img src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F1981November%2Ffare-2_102813122836.jpg" alt="" height="425" width="650" class="" layout="responsive"></amp-img>Inder Sharma :Clear conscience</div>Injured Innocence</b>: BA was one of the parties to the earlier agreement to clean up the trade. Now it tries its best to maintain an air of injured innocence. Says Dilip Mitra, manager, northern India: "I do hope sense will prevail and the agents will reconsider their decision." But though BA does not admit it, it does stand to lose considerably by the boycott-70 per cent of their business comes from travel agents.<br><br>There is no doubt a small element of jealousy in the travel agents' fulminations against Sita. One year ago, without ceremony IATA quietly deleted its rule which said that the GSA had to be a person who had no ties with an IATA agent or a subsidiary or even a business house. This went unnoticed in India until Sita, taking advantage of the new rules, jumped into the GSA business.<br><br>Inder Sharma, the urbane chairman of Sita, who is also the managing director of Indrama maintains an imperturbable facade in the face of the allegations against him. He says calmly: "There was a time when an IATA agent's subsidiary could not become an agent. Today the rules have changed. We were watching for the changes and took the opportunity when it came. Any one of my colleagues in the trade would have done the same."<br><br>He also defends himself saying: "They (the TAAI) have condemned me even before I have started to operate." BA also makes the same point but agents point out that it would be an almost irresistible temptation for Indrama to operate just as all other GSA'S are doing. And though Sharma claims the credit for having seized the right opportunity many in the trade credit Mitra of BA with having kept an eye on the rules and suggesting the agreement to Sita.<br><br>But whoever is responsible, the deal has shocked the travel industry. Says M. Kannan, secretary of the TAAI: "Sharma was one of the pillars of our struggles against the GSA's. Now he has stabbed us in the back." Other travel agents have suggested that Sharma should resign gracefully from the TAAI managing committee.<br><br>It looks as if discounting has come to be accepted. The airlines pretend that it doesn't happen and refuse to do anything about it. But discounting has become so much a part of the business that the National Projects Construction Corporation, a public sector undertaking, recently invited tenders from agents and airlines for the cheapest fare possible to Baghdad.</p><p>And with over 30 per cent of passenger capacity out of lndia going a-begging, the question that is being asked in the travel industry is: How long will Indrama continue to play by the rules?<br></p><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Oct 28, 2013</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div></div>

tourism

TOURISM

<div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><img  title=""  class="" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F1981November%2Ffare-1_102813122807.jpg" loading="lazy" /></div>Welinkar: Speaking for travel agents<p>'Don't fly British Airways' could well be the slogan of the Travel Agents Association of lndia (TAAI). The association, which represents International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved agents, has stopped selling British Airways (BA) tickets and has written to the airline asking it to take back its ticket stocks.<br><br>But the TAAI's unprecedented boycott is not directed solely against BA - it is also intended as notice to all international airlines that it is fed up of the discriminatory rules which allow the airlines' general sales agents (GSA) the possibility of offering bigger discounts on air tickets.<br><br>By a strange twist the BA boycott was provoked by Sita Travels, one of the most prominent members of TAAI. Last month Sita deserted the anti-GSA crusade, of which it had been one of the prime movers, and allowed Indrama, a fully owned subsidiary, to sign a GSA agreement with BA. Other travel agents were particularly incensed by Sita's defection.<br><br>They were also worried that the trend may spread to other airlines who may decide to appoint travel agents as GSA's, hurting the travel trade. Said Paul de Bernier, a member of the TAAI managing committee: "The fundamental reason for the boycott is that Sita and Indrama are too closely linked. This is practically the same thing as appointing an IATA agent as a general sales agent."<br><br><b>Root</b>: At the root of the dispute is the whole concept of the GSA and the arcane rules which govern the travel business. The practice of appointing GSA's was started in the late '60s by Lufthansa, and Air France which offered discounts of up to 27 per cent. They were soon joined by other airlines.<br><br>The GSA was originally meant to supplement airline activities outside metropolitan areas where the airlines did not have their own offices or were inadequately represented. The GSA's are today allowed a higher commission of 12 per cent as against the 9 per cent which travel agents are allowed.<br><br>What happened in actual fact was that the agents were appointed for smaller towns and cities but they set up what they called "camp" offices in metropolitan areas, thus cutting into the business of the travel agents. The problem was further complicated in the late '70s, when the airlines, which had just introduced the new family of wide-bodied jets and were desperate for new customers, brought in a whole range of concessional fares. This further reduced the business of travel agents.<br><br>Travel agents gripe that they have to operate under other disadvantages. Says C.S. Welinkar, chairman TAAI, northern India: "We have to represent all the airlines and look after the interests of the passenger. The GSA, on the other hand, only represents one airline and only has to look after its interests." In addition, the GSA's have formed consortiums enabling them to hawk any airline ticket in contravention of airline rules.<br><br>Three years ago, the airlines got together with the stated intention of ending undercutting. The Board of Airlines Representatives (BAR India), with a membership of 13 airlines, signed a declaration that they would clean up the market. But with the severe competition they soon forgot their good resolutions. Says Welinkar: "No sooner had they signed the agreement than they went back to their old practices."<br><br><b><div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><img  title=""  class="" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F1981November%2Ffare-2_102813122836.jpg" loading="lazy" /></div>Inder Sharma :Clear conscience</div>Injured Innocence</b>: BA was one of the parties to the earlier agreement to clean up the trade. Now it tries its best to maintain an air of injured innocence. Says Dilip Mitra, manager, northern India: "I do hope sense will prevail and the agents will reconsider their decision." But though BA does not admit it, it does stand to lose considerably by the boycott-70 per cent of their business comes from travel agents.<br><br>There is no doubt a small element of jealousy in the travel agents' fulminations against Sita. One year ago, without ceremony IATA quietly deleted its rule which said that the GSA had to be a person who had no ties with an IATA agent or a subsidiary or even a business house. This went unnoticed in India until Sita, taking advantage of the new rules, jumped into the GSA business.<br><br>Inder Sharma, the urbane chairman of Sita, who is also the managing director of Indrama maintains an imperturbable facade in the face of the allegations against him. He says calmly: "There was a time when an IATA agent's subsidiary could not become an agent. Today the rules have changed. We were watching for the changes and took the opportunity when it came. Any one of my colleagues in the trade would have done the same."<br><br>He also defends himself saying: "They (the TAAI) have condemned me even before I have started to operate." BA also makes the same point but agents point out that it would be an almost irresistible temptation for Indrama to operate just as all other GSA'S are doing. And though Sharma claims the credit for having seized the right opportunity many in the trade credit Mitra of BA with having kept an eye on the rules and suggesting the agreement to Sita.<br><br>But whoever is responsible, the deal has shocked the travel industry. Says M. Kannan, secretary of the TAAI: "Sharma was one of the pillars of our struggles against the GSA's. Now he has stabbed us in the back." Other travel agents have suggested that Sharma should resign gracefully from the TAAI managing committee.<br><br>It looks as if discounting has come to be accepted. The airlines pretend that it doesn't happen and refuse to do anything about it. But discounting has become so much a part of the business that the National Projects Construction Corporation, a public sector undertaking, recently invited tenders from agents and airlines for the cheapest fare possible to Baghdad.</p><p>And with over 30 per cent of passenger capacity out of lndia going a-begging, the question that is being asked in the travel industry is: How long will Indrama continue to play by the rules?<br></p><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Oct 28, 2013</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div></div>

TAAI's unprecedented boycott is not directed solely against BA -
 it is also intended as notice to all international airlines that it is 
fed up of the discriminatory rules which allow the airlines' general 
sales agents the possibility of offering bigger discounts on air 
tickets.

India Today

TAAI's unprecedented boycott is not directed solely against BA - it is also intended as notice to all international airlines that it is fed up of the discriminatory rules which allow the airlines' general sales agents the possibility of offering bigger discounts on air tickets.

Travel agents: Less than fare - India Today

Travel Agents Association of lndia stops selling British Airways tickets

Travel agents: Less than fare

Netflix confirmed the 'Beef Season 2' premiere date and shared first-look pictures of the star-cast from the show. The show is set to premiere globally on April 16. 

Beef Season 2 first-look images unveiled by Netflix

Beef Season 2 stills

Beef Season 2: Netflix announces premiere date, unveils first-look images

The detention of a 5-year-old Minnesota boy by US immigration agents sparked outrage, with Kamala Harris accusing ICE of using a child as bait, while DHS defended the operation and denied wrongdoing.

Liam Conejo Ramos, 5, is detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after arriving home from preschool, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in a Minneapolis suburb. (Ali Daniels via AP)

Who is Liam Conejo Ramos? Detention of 5-year-old in Minnesota sparks outrage

Cruz Beckham has posted a series of ambiguous social media posts set to Victoria Beckham’s music following public statements about a family rift by his brother, Brooklyn Beckham.

Cruz Beckham's cryptic social media posts sparks specualtions amid family feud

Cruz Beckham

Cruz Beckham’s cryptic Instagram post echoes mother Victoria's hit amid family feud

School Assembly News Headlines for January 23: From major policy moves in Delhi and Kerala's historic milestone to global peace efforts and natural disasters, here are today's most important headlines.


School assembly news headlines, Jaunuary 23: Top India, world, sports, business news

Donald Trump explained the visible bruise on his left hand as a minor accident combined with his aspirin use. The White House earlier confirmed that the US President injured his hand during a Board of Peace signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump also attributed the bruising to his regular use of aspirin,

Trump hand

Photos reveal deep bruise on Trump’s hand at Davos summit, he offers explanation

Play Time!

Donald Trump

Davos 2026

T20 World Cup

Border 2

JEE Main

PM Modi

Dhurandhar

Virat Kohli

Jana Nayagan

Jaipur Literature Festival

WPL 2026

AR Rahman

Budget

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai at Davos, Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama spoke in fluent Hindi and slammed Donald Trump for his remarks and recalled his student days in India. 

Soma

Watch: Somalia Deputy PM Salah Ahmed Jama speaks in fluent Hindi

In this exclusive interaction with India Today at Davos, Ian Bremmer, President of Eurasia Group, said that President Donald Trump is not the most powerful leader, but it is Xi Jinping. 

Trump is not the most powerful leader: Ian Bremmer

In this exclusive India Today Davos Brainstorm session, Richard Quest, CNN Business Editor-at-Large, shares his insights on the shifting global order, Trump threats, tariff war and more.

richard

Richard Quest decodes Trump threats, tariffs and more

Twenty people, including women and children, were left stranded 75 feet above the ground after an amusement ride malfunctioned at an exhibition held at Codissia Grounds in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore. The incident occurred on Tuesday night when around 20 visitors, including three children, were stuck on the ride, prompting police and the Fire and Rescue Department to respond. Using a sky lift vehicle, the rescue team worked for roughly 45 minutes to safely bring everyone down. The incident has raised safety concerns, following a similar case in Chennai last year where visitors were left stranded on an amusement ride, highlighting the need for periodic inspections and strict safety checks of such attractions.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night when around 20 visitors, including three children, were stuck on the ride, prompting police and the Fire and Rescue Department to respond.

Download App

Subscribe to India Today Print + Digital. Your First Month Is On Us. ₹299/month thereafter. Cancel anytime.

Travel Agents Association of lndia stops selling British Airways tickets

TAAI's unprecedented boycott is not directed solely against BA - it is also intended as notice to all international airlines that it is fed up of the discriminatory rules which allow the airlines' general sales agents the possibility of offering bigger discounts on air tickets.

PUBLICATIONS

TELEVISION

EVENTS

RADIO

GAMING

USEFUL LINKS

PRINTING

WELFARE

DISTRIBUTION

SYNDICATIONS

WEBSITES

EDUCATION