Travel coalition harshly criticizes Amadeus and Lufthansa over surcharge

The Business Travel Coalition (BTC), a travel industry lobbying group, is calling the decision by Amadeus to no longer absorb Lufthansa’s surcharge as an “ominous development for corporate travel managers.”

From the first of February, the charge will be passed on to business passengers. Previously, it was absorbed by the GDS.

US-based BTC has said that the move by Lufthansa puts in place “a permanent indirect price increase,” by clearly placing distribution costs “onto the backs of its very best customers.” It has described the initiative as a “callous disregard for consumer welfare.”

Kevin Mitchell, the chairman of BTC, has objected to attempts by Lufthansa to move customers to its website and away from the GDS, where choices are more limited.

Mitchell said: “The European travel distribution system model should not be allowed to be dictated to the industry by one marketplace participant at the expense of all others. With the full weight of this surcharge now slated to hit corporate travel budgets on 1 February, there is a brief opportunity for travel managers to demand a seat at the table.”

He went on to say: “We have seen this movie before in the US and UK marketplaces and the ending can be positive if travel managers seize the moment and communicate to Lufthansa and Amadeus in no uncertain terms.”

Thanks to www.travelmole.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.lufthansa.com