Now what? The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has
begun laying out its plan to work with the new administration set to take over
in January.
ASTA’s Corporate Advisory Council will first tackle the
unknown – the Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Transportation
Department and the Department of Justice.
The RFI relates to the state of competition in air travel.
It was issued on October 24, less than two weeks before the
election, and with a change in administration, the fate of the RFI is
uncertain. ASTA points out that there’s no clear understanding of what use the
two agencies, with new political leadership, would make of the information they
gather.
“It stands to reason that it’s unlikely the new
Administration will use the information to propose new rules,” said Zane Kerby,
President & CEO of ASTA. “Nonetheless, the RFI provides ASTA, as a global
trade organization that represents the business of selling travel, an
opportunity to reinforce its position on airline competition and the essential
role that leisure and corporate travel agencies play in the overall travel
economy.”
ASTA previously brought concerns regarding competition in
air travel to the attention of both agencies more than a year ago. It said it
maintains its desire to share information on this issue with its members.
“There’s a lot to be said for ASTA’s efforts in this,” Kerby
said. “That’s why we’re going to spend more time with our advisory council to
thoughtfully pull our comments together, with an emphasis on areas where travel
agencies have a unique perspective, as well as a plan for countering the
arguments that we believe will be submitted from the airlines and others.”
The administration of newly elected President Donald Trump
begins on January 20. There is expected to be some change in the airline
industry.
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