KARACHI: Recently TAAP wrote a letter to CEO PIA and expressed its dismay and reservation about the changed policy of PIA whereby travel agents are not allowed to sell PIA tickets. In this difficult time when travel agents of Pakistan were looking towards national institutions for support, this new policy created more economic worries for them.
In the letter TAAP congratulated CEO PIA for winning the case and taking charge of the national carrier once more.
The Chairman TAAP wrote, “With you at the helm, we had started to see a turnaround in PIA’s fortunes. Sadly, due to the ongoing COVID19 debacle, the whole travel industry is now facing a major crisis. Undoubtedly there is no better person suited to be leading our national carrier through this crisis. And the only way out is for the industry to work together as without a collaborative effort, a swift recovery is not possible.”
The new policy of PIA is jeopardizing customer convenience as PIA web and windows are being the only source eligible to sell tickets, the travel agents are asked to divert passengers to PIA’s counters. This is just a hassle for potential customers of very difficult time.
This new PIA counter sales policy has puts customers’ and PIA’s staff’s health at risk due to the added interaction which can be avoided particularly when the social distancing is the key to combat the virus.
The policy has put Unnecessary load on the Pakistani Missions abroad. There have been numerous complaints of rude and aloof behavior of embassy staff with stranded Pakistanis.
This Is the time to strengthen relationship in between the trade partners {travel agents and PIA), however this policy is just causing unnecessary strain on the good existing relationship. These tough times can be better spent to further build relationship between PIA and the travel community before travel restrictions are lifted and other airlines are allowed to fly into Pakistan.
The new policy has put further unnecessary financial strain on the travel agents as they are not allowed to issue PIAs tickets, which is possibly the only possible sources of income during the lockdown period. If not promptly resolved will result in the closure of thousands of -businesses and consequently loss of hundreds of thousands of Pakistani jobs redundancies.
“As you are well aware, that Travel Agents, TAAP and travel businesses has always done our utmost Bestto support our own Airline as we have considered it our obligation to promote our National Carrier. We hope we can work together in this difficult time and support each other to build a better relationship for the future.” wrote Mr. Naeem Shareef, Chairman TAAP
