TTAA meets with travel agencies affected by Japan's ban on Thai chartered flights

[webfact]

TTAA meets with travel agencies affected by Japan's ban on Thai chartered flights

BANGKOK, 20 April 2015 (NNT) - The President of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) has revealed that he recently attended a meeting of travel agencies that have been affected by Japan’s ban on Thai chartered flights, from the end of last month to April 11.

TTAA President Suparerk Soorangura said the meeting reported about 20,000 travelers were affected by the ban. These travelers can be divided into two groups.

The first group consists of those who received advanced notice that their flight was cancelled and were given refunds by the travel agency or airline. The second group involves those who reached the airport only to find that their flight was cancelled or delayed.

The TTAA agreed that all five airlines that offer chartered flights to Japan rely on travel agencies to fill seats. The meeting called for travel agencies to seek damages from the airlines responsible for their losses, which extend beyond ticket refunds. These losses include damages related to partner businesses in Japan, which cannot refund deposits on tour buses or hotel rooms.

However, estimates of total losses are currently unavailable. Travel agencies have been told to compile receipts and to confer with relevant airlines. The TTAA has offered to negotiate on behalf of the agencies for compensation in the form of cash, flight tickets, or waivers on future deposits.

Meanwhile, the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau has eased the ban on low-cost chartered flights until the end of May, in order to reduce the impact on passengers. The association estimates that 100,000 Thai travelers will book chartered flights to Japan. Travel agencies have resumed normal operations and continued to offer packaged tourism deals to Japan.


-- NNT 2015-04-20

[Oziex1]

Meanwhile, the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau has eased the ban on low-cost chartered flights until the end of May, in order to reduce the impact on passengers. The association estimates that 100,000 Thai travelers will book chartered flights to Japan. Travel agencies have resumed normal operations and continued to offer packaged tourism deals to Japan.

Have they really eased the ban, a lot of Thai speak has been involved in this case.

Can they reduce the impact on passengers from the ground when they hit at warp speed from an unsafe aircraft.