IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) has launched an i-Top (Indian Travel-Agents Own Portal), which it hopes will result in better remunerations for small and medium members at a time of dwindling airline commissions.
i-Top allows agents to book directly with airlines using the latest New Distribution Capability (NDC) from IATA. The GDS connectivity is being offered through Galileo with the association also in talks with Amadeus and Abacus to bring them on the platform.
Biji Eapen, national president, IAAI said: “i-Top is the first platform in India that will offer travel agents an option to book tickets through IATA’s NDC. Presently, we are negotiating with airlines that are offering zero commission to agents. In fact two leading carriers in India have shown interest to come on board i-Top.”
“Today, in this ‘zero’ commission scenario, i-Top will provide users a guaranteed opportunity to earn substantial commissions for the sale of NDC airline tickets and also significant remunerations for other services like cancellation, refund, rerouting, date change etc, for which airlines used to charge penalties without giving a share to travel agents,” he added.
IAAI has signed an exclusive contract with Verteil Technologies for access and distribution of NDC-listed airline products through its direct connect platform, VDC (Verteil Direct Connect), which is integrated with i-Top.
IAAI is also holding talks with major consolidators like Riya Travels and Akbar Travels to integrate their offerings on the i-Top platform. In the coming days, IAAI members will also be able to book forex, insurance, hotels, tour packages, rail and bus tickets on i-Top.
“This technology solution is going to be a game changer for small and medium travel agents as… they will be able to access rates from different suppliers and book accordingly. Moreover, collectively we will be able to negotiate better commission rates with suppliers who will be interested to promote their products on the platform,” said T.U. Shamsuddin, director – Travel & Tour, Speedwings Travel & Cargo.
“Apart from new avenues of revenue generation, the platform will also offer recognition to small and medium agents who are now booking air tickets with consolidators. But with i-Top we will have an option to book directly with airlines thus bringing recognition to them,” said Rajiv Shroff, director, Kwik Fly Travels.
