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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025