A group whose members include Amadeus and Expedia, stepped up their fight against German airline Lufthansa Wednesday, urging EU regulators to investigate booking fees it levies on travel agents. In its complaint to the EC’s antitrust watchdog, the European Technology and Travel Services Association (ETTSA) alleged that Lufthansa’s fees have cost consumers using independent distribution channels more than E1b since 2015. German online travel agent VIR is a joint complainant with ETTSA in the case. The association’s other members are Odigeo, Opodo, bookers, eDreams, Sabre, Travelport and hotels.com, among others. “LH (is) leveraging its dominant position on air transport services markets in Austria and Germany to control and manipulate the present and future distribution channels for LH and ultimately other carriers’ tickets,” the association said in its complaint. It said this penalized EU consumers in the short term as well as in the long run. The Commission confirmed receipt of the association’s complaint against Lufthansa, saying that it would assess it carefully. Lufthansa said: “Indeed, we have officially been informed today about the complaint from ETTSA filed to the European Commission. Of course, the Lufthansa Group will cooperate with the investigating authorities.”<br/>
star
Turkish Airlines, originally scheduled to move from its Istanbul Ataturk hub to Istanbul New Airport (INA) by the end of the year, has postponed the change until March 2019, according to local media reports. INA, which had a “soft opening” Oct. 29, was to have what was dubbed a “big bang” launch Dec. 31 following the relocation of Turkish Airlines operations. However, airline and INA officials decided to postpone the move until March, Turkey’s DHA news agency reported Tuesday. Airline and INA officials did not respond to a request for comments. INA’s initial capacity will be 90m passengers annually, with the potential to grow to 200m through a series of expansions by 2030. The first phase of the airport was completed in 42 months and includes a 1.3m sq m terminal and two runways.<br/>
Thai Airways International has increased pilot allowances in a bid to stop pilot poaching by competitors. THAI president Sumeth Damrongchaitham said the company's board on Wednesday approved the new rates for pilots. The rates are based on the block hour pay system, which will be applied from January 2019 onwards. The block hour pay system gives pilots fairer payment as it is calculated by flight distance. Over the past 10-15 years, THAI have lost pilots to other airlines due to the emergence of low cost airlines that offer better pay. Currently, THAI employs about 1,300 pilots across its domestic and international routes. According to Linkedin the median salary of Thai Airways pilots is $95,000, or just over 3 million baht. A THAI source said many premium and budget airlines have already applied the block hour pay system to prevent the poaching of pilots by other companies. Many THAI pilots have resigned to join other airlines after being offered better allowances and pay, the source noted.<br/>