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Delta 'wants to resolve undercutting'
Monday, October 19, 2009 Talks between a European travel trade delegation and US airline Delta Airways were described as “positive” by one of the UK leading business travel bosses. Ken McLeod, director corporate of agency consortium Advantage, was among a group of industry figures who flew to Atlanta to discuss the carrier’s relationship with agencies in the EU. McLeod was also keen to confront the airline’s bosses about cheap airfares being made available on its website. Tickets were being sold for as much as $500 dollars cheaper than any rate available to travel management companies, despite their full-content agreements with the global distribution system providers Amadeus, Travelport and Sabre. “The discussions were healthy,” said McLeod. “Delta is going through a lot of changes after its merger with Northwest Airlines and its new relationship with Air France-KLM is also in the background.” McLeod said he was told the airline takes its presence in the UK seriously and would work hard to resolve any undercutting suffered by agents. Delta splits transatlantic revenues with Air France-KLM, though its main responsibility is sales out of the Americas, while Air France-KLM runs European sales. “It’s obviously important to them to have a good trade relations in the UK. Given all the merger activity it is taking them time to find their feet. “They say they want to resolve these issues at soon as possible. But the message must filter through to sales staff on the ground.”
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