Qatar Plans to Boycott British Airways

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   British Airways have announced that it will reduce the commission it pays to its travel agent partners in Qatar from the current 5% to just 1%. The decision is the latest in a series of cost cutting measures introduced by the company formerly known as "The World's Favourite Airline". As a result of the move, the Association of Qatar travel agencies have threatened to stop selling seats on BA flights to their clients.
   However, aviation industry experts have expressed little surprise at BA's move; they view it as being consistent with the long-term aim of the major European and North American airlines to stop paying commission to travel agencies altogether. Nadejda Prokina is Director of the Booking Department of Moscow travel agency DSBW; she explained that 'Alitalia and Finair led the way in this area.' And Vasilyi Zhukov, Head of the Booking Department of Carlson Tourism in Moscow agreed - pointing out that 'at the moment many airline companies are changing their policy on commission, paying nothing at least on certain routes. It's a common tendency. However, at the moment we still receive a full commission from British Airways.'
   Russian companies are unlikely to be as reactionary as their counterparts in Qatar; Prokina emphasised that 'at DSBW we do not think it's reasonable to spoil relationship with British Airways.' And even with zero commission agents in Russia will be able to continue to make money on flight bookings by adding the "agent's service fee" common in Russia.