Travel Agency Accreditation Procedure (India)

Joining the Global IATA Travel Agency Community

A. INTRODUCTION
International air transport is one of the most dynamic industries in the world. It needs a
responsive, forward-looing and universal trade association, operating at the highest
professional standards. IATA is that association.
IATA brings together appro!imately "#$ airlines, including the world%s largest. &lights by
our member airlines comprise more than '( percent of all international scheduled air
traffic.
This guide provides general information about the IATA Travel Agency )rogramme and
details on how to obtain accreditation for your Travel Agency and its *ranches.
The following information for IATA Agency Accreditation is provided in this guide+
, )urpose of IATA Accreditation
" Agency -egulations
# .ualifications / criteria re0uired
1 2is0ualifications
3 2ocumentation re0uired
4 Accreditation procedure
5 Agency accreditation fees
( Travel agent6s handboo / other IATA publications and services '
7ethod of Application
1. Purpose o IATA Accreditation
The purpose of Accreditation is to formally recognise travel agents that are authorised to
sell and issue international airline ticets. The Accreditation process has a set of criteria that
needs to be met.
!. Agency Regulations
)assenger 8ales Agency -ules have been established by IATA in order to regulate the
relationship between the IATA approved )assenger 8ales Agencies and IATA 7ember
Airlines. These rules set forth the rights and obligations of both parties and the
procedures applicable to IATA accredited Agencies.
International Air Transport Association
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#. $uali%cations & Criteria Re'uired
Applicants must meet certain minimum criteria in order to be listed as an IATA
Accredited Agency and, continue to meet these standards in order to be retained in the
official IATA Agency >ist.
#.1 (eneral re'uire)ent* )lease note that you are re0uired to be in business for a
minimum period of si! months prior to submission of your application for approval as an
IATA agency. )roductivity statement of sales ?international / domestic@ should be duly
certified by the auditor and forwarded with your application.
#.! +ta, $uali%cations* The applicant must have in it%s employment competent and
and 0ualified staff able to sell air transportation and correctly issue electronic documents
and report these to the *8). 8upporting documentation to prove employment with the
applicant - i.e. - G28, IATA or Airline course certificates, may be submitted with the
application.
#.# -inancial Re'uire)ents* Applicants and accredited IATA Agents are e!pected to
have satisfactory financial and credit standing. An evaluation is conducted on the
Applicant6s independently produced financial statements. These should consist of a
current audited )rofit and >oss 8tatement and *alance 8heet, prepared in accordance
with local accounting practices, as well as an Aging Analysis of Account -eceivables
and )ayables.
An Applicant may be re0uired to provide additional information as may be necessary to
complete the financial evaluation. &inancial statements meeting established criteria, may be
considered satisfactory. 8hould one of established criteria not be met, then to obtain a
satisfactory evaluation, the applicant may be re0uired to provide additional financial support in
the form of recapitaliAation or of a ban or insurance guarantee. Agents failing to meet any of the
standards or failing to supply financial support where re0uested will not be considered as
financially satisfactory. Insolvent companies will also not be considered as financially
satisfactory. The financial standing of Agents is reviewed periodically.
International Air Transport Association
,$,, Corporate 9nclave, :*; <ing
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#.. +uita/ility o Pre)ises* An applicant must maintain a well appointed office
engaged solely in the promotion and sale of )assenger transportation including
international air transportation and services related there to, open and accessible to the
general public all the year round during normal woring days and hours and which has
been found suitable on inspection by IATA. The premises must be clearly identified as a
travel agency to the general public. Ade0uate security against burglary must be provided
throughout the premises including the provision of suitably loced and strengthened
doors barred windows and sylights where applicable. The premises should not be
shared by the staff of any other trading activity thereby giving them access to airline
travel documents.
#.0 +ae +torage o Travel Docu)ents* A safe or a steel cabinet which is locable and
fire proof. The Agency 8ervices 7anager may as an alternative approve storage of such
documents in a locable steel cabinet or strong room.
#.1 2icense to Trade* <here re0uired, an applicant shall have a valid license to trade
and comply with any other national legal re0uirements in the country of operation.
#.3 Auto)ation* A mandatory re0uirement for approval is that the agent must be fully
e0uipped to issue automated ticets without which approval will not be granted.
.. Dis'uali%cations
No applicant "ill /e approved i t4e applying agency*
..1 Acts as a General 8ales Agent for one or more IATA 7embers.
..! Acts as a General 8ales Agent for one or more non-IATA Air Carriers and fails to
re0uest and obtain permission to do so from the Agency Administrator.
..# Is applying for an Bffice located at an airport.
1.1 Cses a name identical or similar to that of IATA or an IATA 7ember.
1.3 2oes not provide complete and accurate information in the application.
1.4 2oes not have a satisfactory record of the applicant or of any of its managerial
staff or its principal stocholder, directors or officers with regard to adherence to ethical
business practices.
1.5 Includes any person holding a financial interest in or employed in any capacity
?including that of 2irector@ who has had a financial interest in or was employed by an
Agent who has been removed from the Agency >ist or suspendedD provided that the
Agency Administrator may nevertheless approve the application if he is satisfied that
such person did not participate in the acts that caused such removal or suspension or
if he is satisfied that the applicant can be relied upon to comply with the terms of the 8ales
Agency Agreement, these -ules and other applicable -esolutions.
International Air Transport Association
,$,, Corporate 9nclave, :*; <ing
*. 2.8awant 7arg Chaala,
Andheri 9ast ,
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0. Docu)entation re'uired
9ach Applicant is re0uired to complete an application form designed to determine the
identification, ownership, facilities, staff, legal entity, financial standing, sales and
promotion of the Applicant.
The following documents should accompany the application+
0.1 Articles of IncorporationEassociationEregistration and license to tradeD
0.! Current financial statements consisting of an audited )rofit and >oss account and
*alance 8heetD
0.# Aging Analysis of Account -eceivables and )ayablesD
T4e Application or) s4ould /e su/)itted in Original and t4e ans"er script
)ust /e ully supported /y t4e re'uisite docu)entary evidence.
International Air Transport Association
,$,, Corporate 9nclave, :*; <ing
*. 2.8awant 7arg Chaala,
Andheri 9ast ,
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1. Accreditation Procedure
All applications, with full supporting documentation / 22 of IF- ,#1(1E- ?non refundable
fee@ should be sent directly to IATA - India in the address given in Anne! A. All
applications are acnowledged / applicants are informed should any element be
incomplete or, initially do not appear to meet the established criteria.
Investigators, neutrally acting on behalf of IATA, will visit the sites indicated by the
Applicant. This visit sees to ascertain that all the criteria are met. )articular attention is
paid to ensure that the premises and staff meet the re0uirements. At the same time, the
financial standing of the Applicant will be assessed, based on the previously supplied
accounts and financial information.
<hen satisfactory site visits and financial reports are received, then details of the
Applicant are published to all 7ember Airlines. If the applicant meets all 0ualifications,
then promptly thereafter approval will be given. All 7ember Airlines shall be notified of the
approval decision.
1.1 Approval* A successful Applicant will be sent an approval letter from IATA regional
office advising of the assigned IATA numeric code and effective date of approval. The
Agent6s duplicate copy of the )assenger 8ales Agency Agreement ?)8AA@ /
Addendum, counter-signed by IATA is also sent, together with the IATA Certificate / IATA
logo. Cnder separate cover, the newly accredited Agent receives the latest edition of the
IATA Travel Agents Gandboo.
1.! Disapproval* 2isapproved Applicants will be notified of the grounds for disapproval. A
reHected Applicant may, within Thirty ?#$@ days, re0uest reconsideration of the decision by the
Agency Administrator or, following reconsideration, may invoe the procedures for review by
the Agency Commissioner. A re-application may be made as soon as the
grounds for disapproval have been corrected.
In order to ensure that all accredited Agents on the official Agency >ist continue to meet the
criteria, periodic reassessments are conducted. In addition, any accredited Agent
undergoing changes to its financial or legal structure, name, ownership or premises is
re0uired to promptly notify IATA. Certain changes may affect the status of an Agent and
may be subHect to review procedures.
5. Agency -ees
IF- '(,$53E- ?inclusive of 8ervice Ta!@ = C82 31 is payable on submission of the application.
An invoice for these fees will be forwarded to the agency. )lease note that this amount is subHect to
change. IF- #",$$$E- ?inclusive of 8ervice Ta!@ would be non-refundable if the application is
reHected due to non-compliance in accreditation criteria.
Bn completion of all re0uirements including the fee, the application will be processed.
International Air Transport Association
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Travel Agent6s 7and/oo8 & Ot4er IATA Pu/lications And +ervices*
9ach successful Applicant will have access to a ree electronic edition of the Travel
Agent6s Gandboo. The latest electronic edition of the Gandboo will be made available to
Accredited Agents when revised E reissued ?usually annually@, free of cost. The
Gandboo should be studied and ept for ready reference, since it contains the IATA
-esolutions that affect Travel Agents and which are binding under the )assenger 8ales
Agency Agreement ?)8AA@.
5.1 9illing & +ettle)ent Plan (9+P)* The *8) is a standardiAed system for airlines and
agents, providing them with a simplified approach to the selling, reporting and
administration of passenger air transportation. The *8) simplifies airlineEagent reporting
and remittance saves costs and improves cash flow. <ith the *8), Agents are able to+
5.1.1 Issue neutral +tandard Tra:c Docu)ents (+TD)* on behalf of all *8) Airlines,
in accordance with their 8ales Agency Agreements.
5.1.! Report* with a minimum of effort, their sales made on behalf of *8) Airlines to a
central 92) Centre, which produces one billing for each Agent%s sales in a given period,
re0uiring only one remittance per Agent and per period.
5.1.# Co)putes* the division of the Agents% remittances to each *8) Airline, allowing
one single settlement, within an agreed time frame.
5.! IATA International Travel Agents Training Progra))e* IATA6s training
programmes are designed and monitored by training specialists from maHor international
airlines and are aimed at helping Travel agencies in their efforts to train their staff. The IATA
home-study courses are available worldwide and e!aminations are held twice
yearly in most countries of operation.
An official certificate is awarded to each and every successful candidate. Certificate
holders are considered 0ualified to become an effective Travel agent under the terms of
the Travel Agency -ules. )lease visit http+EEwww.iata.orgEpsEtrainingEcoursesEinde! for
more information on courses.
International Air Transport Association
,$,, Corporate 9nclave, :*; <ing
*. 2. 8awant 7arg, Chaala,
Andheri 9ast
7umbai 1$$$''
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5.!.1 9+P Training ;odules
Bnce the application for IATA accreditation is under process of finaliAation, your team will
also have to get familiar with the *illing / 8ettlement )lan ?*8)@ system, *8) processes
and common *8) >anguage.
It would be essential that prior to your agency%s cutover to *8), two of your agency
personnel successfully complete the below *8) training modulesD
Iour office would be sent a C2 with the mentioned modules which contains 8even ?5@
lessons and the subHects are as follows+
*8) Training - >esson , - General Bverview
*8) Training - >esson " - *8) )articipants
*8) Training - >esson # - Gow *8) <ors
*8) Training - >esson 1 - Cnderstanding *8)lin
*8) Training - >esson 3 - *8) *illing -eports
*8) Training - >esson 4 - *8) Calendar / Agency -emittance
*8) Training - >esson 5 - Customer 8ervice )ortal
Bnce two agency personnel, successfully complete these online courses, please forward an
acnowledgement on email I2 *B7C8Jiata.org, stating the names of the personnel whom
have completed all the modules.
Bnce received by us and verified, our office will eep you posted on the date of your
agencies cutover, after finaliAation of the application.
<. ;et4od O Application
<here an organiAation considers that it meets the necessary re0uirements to warrant
approval as an IATA Travel 8ales Agency, an application form ?Anne! A@ along with a
processing fee of INR <5=>30?@ ?inclusive of 8ervice Ta!@ favoring AIATA6
payable in ;u)/ai for processing application.
International Air Transport Association
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AnneB A
Re'uest 2etter to /e su/)itted on t4e agency letter 4ead
I have read and understood the guide for Travel Agency Accreditation and would lie to
submit an application to have the following agency accredited.
Na)e o Agency * FAIZ TRAVELS
-ull Address * #1@A DDA -2AT= ;ATA +UNDRI ROAD
?Including postal code@ BESIDE RANJIT SINGH FLYOVER, NEW DELHI-110002
Country * INDIA
Tel. & -aB Nu)/er * ><1@11@!#!##351=
><515>5>>51
C@)ail * aiDtravels351Eg)ail.co)
Na)e o Applicant * FU2-I$AR A2I
( Proprietor )
(+ignature)
Pay)ent a)ount * INR <5>30?
Pay)ent details * *an draft no+ KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK ?All ban
drafts should be drawn in favor of IATA paya/le at ;u)/ai@.
This re0uest and future correspondence should be addressed and mailed E e-mailed to+
;anager
International Air Transport Association ,$,, G2B Corporate 9nclave, L*L <ing
*. 2. 8awant 7arg, Chaala
Andheri 9ast, 7umbai 1$$ $'', India.
&or any 0ueriesEclarifications please contact+ 9-
7ail+ bomcsJiata.org
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IATA loo8s or"ard to "elco)ing your Agency into our (lo/al Net"or8.
International Air Transport Association
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Andheri 9ast ,
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