ABTA backs legal action against Lufthansa GDS fee
ABTA has pledged to support its European sister associations who have lodged a formal complaint against Lufthansa’s new GDS fee with the European Commission.
ECTAA – The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations – has filed the complaint with the EU Commission Directorate General for Mobility and Transport, claiming Lufthansa is breaching the GDS code of conduct under EU
regulations.
It is also further pursuing legal investigations to see whether the €16 charge infringes European competition rules.
"As well as increasing prices for consumers, the new charge could put travel agents at a competitive disadvantage," said ABTA.
"Lufthansa’s 2 June announcement was made without any prior consultation and represents a step backwards for IATA Agents moving away from easy connectivity, transparency and comparability of integral systems, resulting in additional time and cost to make bookings.
"ABTA will continue to work with its members to keep them informed of any developments"
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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