another nail in the coffin?, page-2

from travelbiz.com.au

AFTA protests Jetstar post office sales

AFTA ceo Mike Hatton has appealed to members to protest against an application by Australia Post to sell Jetstar tickets.


According to AFTA, Australia Post has requested an exemption from the licensing regime in Australia, including TCF membership, for a proposed arrangement with Jetstar which would allow Australia Post to sell tickets on domestic Jetstar flights through its outlets.

In his letter to agents, Hatton said the service Australia Post proposes in conjunction with Jetstar would be a booking and payment service on line real time, and whilst any exemption granted would also be open to travel agents selling on the same basis, any such exemption could eventually be extended to other airlines.

“Whilst at this time the application is limited to domestic Jetstar ticket sales, who is to say that any future application will not extend to international ticket sales given Jetstar’s announced intention to commence international operations,” Hatton said.

AFTA has lodged a submission with the Victorian Department of Justice suggesting the requested exemption “flies in the face of the present regulatory scheme governing the licensing and TCF membership of Australian travel agents”, and that the proposed Australia Post method of sale for Jetstar domestic tickets is identical to that employed by licensed Australian travel agents.

“If the Australia Post proposal is to proceed then every Australia Post Corporate office and Post Shop must be licensed as a travel agency and be a member of the TCF,” the letter said.


8 November 2005