ACTE Seeks Immediate IATA Regulation Changes

Dublin, 22 Oct. -- The last remaining border in the Euro Zone is proving to be the most difficult to remove, according to a consensus of business travel managers, who met in Dublin for the Global Conference of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations -- many of which date back to 1945 -- are defeating the spirit of borderless travel, while driving up the cost of doing business in the European Union.

"Advances in technology, the creation of the European Union, and the subsequent economic restructuring have introduced the potential for new efficiencies resulting in significant cost savings," said ACTE Chairman Cheryl Hutchinson. The airlines are aggressively capitalising on these efficiencies to cut distribution costs. Yet, travel agencies and corporations are unable to maximise efficiencies because the current IATA regulations have failed to adapt to new market potential, hinder business, and increase costs."

The association called for IATA to make major changes and to modernise its regulations now. The immediate list of priorities includes:

• Eliminating need for country-specific BSPs and implement a pan-European BSP.
• Standardising IATA accreditation requirements across Europe.
• Standardising and simplifying the application process across Europe.
• Removing cross-border booking and ticketing restrictions.
• Modifying the tariff structure to enable standarised faring regardless of booking or ticketing location.