02/09/08 The vote of the European Parliament on 4 September will be crucial for the neutrality and transparency of air ticket distribution The European Parliament will vote in plenary session on amendments to the Regulation proposal on computerised reservation systems (CRSs), which are used by travel agents to distribute air tickets. More >
10/07/08 ECTAA welcomes the new European legislation for transparency in the distribution of air tickets The European Parliament adopted yesterday a Regulation on the publication of all inclusive air fares and on non-discriminatory access to air fares throughout the EU. More >
27/05/08 Akis Kelepeshis elected new President of ECTAA ECTAA, which regroups 29 national associations of travel agents’ and tour operators’ associations in Europe, has elected Mr. Akis Kelepeshis as President of the European association. Mr. Kelepeshis will chair the association for the period 2008-2010. More >
27/05/08 Opening the 97th bi-annual meeting of ECTAA today in Sofia, European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced that the work on the revision of the package travel directive will start shortly. More >
21/05/08 Consumer protection at the heart of the 97th bi-annual meeting of ECTAA European Commissioner responsible for consumer protection, Mrs. Meglena Kuneva, will open the 97th bi-annual meeting of ECTAA held in Sofia and organised by its Bulgarian Member, ABTTA, on 27-28 May. More >
24/04/08 IATA will not address the issues raised by the end of neutral paper tickets on 31 May 2008 At the global joint meeting of 23 April 2008 between IATA, IATA airlines and travel agents’ representatives, IATA refused to discuss the consequences that the end of neutral paper tickets on 31 May 2008 will have for agents. More >
03/04/08 Will there be a genuine liberalisation of air transport benefiting to consumers? The European Parliament is working on the revision of the legislation on computerised reservation systems (CRSs), which is crucial for the travelling public to benefit from a neutral and complete access to competitive air fare. More >
19/03/08 Coach tour operators losing out in face of European legislation on driving and rest time The decision taken by the EU legislators to change driving and rest time rules for coach drivers is taking a toll in particular on small and medium-sized coach tour operators, as costs have spiralled upwards. These operators are the bedrock of Europe’s coach tourism industry ... more >
05/12/07 IATA airlines unilaterally change travel agents’ payment terms IATA has decided today to increase the frequency of payments by agents to airlines in Scandinavia from monthly to weekly remittances. This change seriously affects agents’ conditions of business and has no acceptable justification. More >
15/11/07 Liberalisation of air ticket distribution – but at what cost for the customers? The Regulation proposal on a Code of Conduct for computerised reservation systems (CRSs) presented on 15 November 2007 by the European Commission contains some important safeguards but does not address the threat to customers... more>
08/10/07 Industry says ‘yes’ to the revision of European legislation on package travel Following the launch of a consultation by the European Commission on the European legislation regulating package travel contracts, the so-called Package Travel Directive1, tour operators as well as the leisure and business travel agents regrouped under ECTAA and GEBTA have jointly expressed their support in favor of the revision of the legislation. More >
09/07/07 Vote of the European Parliament on the future EU legislation on passenger air transport: Increased benefits for air passengers within the EU Internal Market The proposed legislation could provide protection of passengers against the failure of air carriers, obligation of air carriers to provide inclusive air fares and the prohibition of discriminations in access to fares throughout Europe. ECTAA hopes that those features will be supported by the European Parliament in plenary session on 10 July. More >
18/06/07 European tourism industry’s hopes are up as proposals are on the table to make visa application procedures more consumer-friendly Recognizing that the majority of Schengen visa-applicants from third-countries travel to Europe for legitimate purposes, the European Parliament makes a number of proposals to make visa application procedures more consumer-friendly. More >
30/04/07 Will the Commission ensure neutral and full access to fares? The 2nd of May the European Commission is meeting representatives of the air transport supply chain to discuss whether the current legislation on computerized reservation systems (CRSs) should be revised or repealed. More >
31/01/07 Threat to customer of losing neutral and complete fares display Finding the best flight is becoming more expensive and time consuming as airlines increasingly post different fare types and classes in the various bookings channels. The neutral and complete fares display provided by agents is in danger ... More >
31/01/07 More airline failures and still no passenger protection in sight Air Madrid and Club Air have ceased operations in the busy Christmas season last year. Despite the failure of more than 50 airlines reported since 2000, there is still no mechanism in place protecting customers in such events. More>
18/12/06 Violation of privacy of travelers to and from the US The US Automated Targeting System (ATS) falls short of the undertakings given by the US to comply with the strict European rules on data and privacy. More >
31/10/06 Rules on use of air tickets in the European Internal Market A step towards air passengers' freedom to use only parts of their ticket and to benefit therefore more easily from the European Internal Market of air transport. German Courts denounce airlines' rules requiring to use all coupons of a ticket and to use them in the sequence provided in the ticket. More >
08/06/06 93rd bi-annual meeting of ECTAA in Bonn June 2006 "What is in the EU pipeline for the trade?" At its bi-annual meeting of ECTAA on 1 and 2 June 2006, the ECTAA Members reviewed the most challenging issues facing the trade in the coming years in terms of European air transport legislation. More >
03/05/06 Visa fees: Another blow to Europe's incoming tourism Visa fees to be charged for the processing of visa applications are set to rise by more than 70% from 35€ to 60€. This is another setback for Europe's incoming tourism, which is already facing a declining market share. More >
13/04/06 European Services Directive "A satisfactory compromise for the Industry". The European Commission has adopted a revised legislative proposal, which clarifies the rules on access to and exercise of a profession when supplying services in other Member States. More >
16/12/05 ECTAA & GEBTA withdraw the EU complaint against IATA After successful negotiations with IATA under the auspices of the European Commission, ECTAA and GEBTA have withdrawn their complaint filed in October 2002 against IATA and IATA member airlines for infringing European competition legislation. More >
20/04/05 New World Travel Agents Associations Alliance A new world alliance designed to bring together key travel agency organisations has been announced today in Geneva. To be known as the Word Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), the organization aims to facilitate exchanges... More >
18/10/02 European agents take legal actions against IATA and IATA member airlines for infringing European competition law On 18 October ECTAA, the Group of National Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations within the EU, and GEBTA, the Guild of European Business Travel Agents, have filed a complaint with the European Commission against IATA... more>