LOT cuts ticket agents' commissions

Polish Airlines LOT, has informed its ticket agents that their commission is to be lowered from 7% to 4% starting from April 1, 2003. The association of agents under the umbrella of IATA Poland, will approve neither the new renum eration nor the date of its introduction. Poland, however, is no exception - a battle between airlines and agents is in progress all over the world. "Com missions in Europe range between 4% and 7%, and few airlines pay more than 7 % in their own countries. Among those that do are Croatia Airways and Olympi c Airways in Greece," explained Christina Russe from ECTAA, an international organization of travel agents. However, IATA opposes the proposed changes, "We are for the introduction of a fixed commission for every ticket sold. I cannot imagine this change taking place in the middle of a tax year," said R yszard Posyniak, President of IATA Poland. (Puls Biznesu, p. 8) A.C.