BA and Iberia to waive booking fees for more TMCs
Travelport has hammered out a new deal with IAG carriers British Airways and Iberia to allow travel management companies to avoid their new GDS booking fees.
In a statement, Travelport said the £8 per fare, introduced by BA and Iberia on November 1, would be waived for TMCs with private channel agreements.
However, all other businesses will still have to pay the booking fees.
Travelport said it was ‘working to develop New Distribution Capability connections and is on track to achieve level 3 status in the coming weeks’.
BA and Iberia announced they were introducing the £8 ‘per fare component’ fare in May, saying it would apply to any bookings not made via an NDC-based connection. It does not apply to fares booked direct.
The airlines have already agreed to waive the fee for several TMCs, including American Express Global Business Travel, CWT and HRG and leisure retailer Flight Centre for bookings made via Amadeus.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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