WRITTEN QUESTION E-0350/04 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Travel agencies: repercussions of the Alitalia crisis on employment.
Date: 2004-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, air transport, distributive trades, economic consequence, industrial restructuring, job preservation, market intervention, powers of the institutions (EU), ticket, trading margin, transport company, travel agency

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/779

Whilst the Commission supports, in principle, WHO recommended therapeutic protocols for malaria or
other diseases in developing countries, it holds the clear view that decisions on such strategies have to be
made by the country concerned based on local conditions.

(1) COM(2003) 93 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0875)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0350/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Travel agencies: repercussions of the Alitalia crisis on employment

The crisis affecting Alitalia is likely to damage other sectors connected with air transport, in particular
travel agencies.

The industrial restructuring plan under discussion at present envisages drastic cuts in the commission paid
to agencies (cid:1) from 7 % to 1 % on the sale of international tickets and from 3 % to 1 % on the sale of
domestic tickets.

As reported by the national representatives of associations of travel agents, these decisions may lead to the
closure of hundreds of agencies. This means that more than 10 000 jobs, about four times as many jobs as
those threatened in Alitalia, are at risk.

Furthermore the cuts, which would result in a rise in air fares, would have other repercussions on
consumers. The end user would have the practical problem of obtaining tickets, because agencies are
obliged to refuse to provide a service which has become too expensive.

It should also be noted that operators in the sector were informed of these decisions, unprecedented in
Europe, only 60 days in advance.

In view of the serious consequences such a move would have on employment and bearing in mind that
travel agencies are the main channel for air-ticket sales, since they manage 91 % of ticket turnover, and
hence a crisis in the sector would impact not only on Alitalia, worsening its already precarious position,
but also on all other European airlines, can the Commission say:

1. whether the European Union has the power to intervene in the matter, in accordance with policies to

safeguard employment or by virtue of any other relevant competence;

2. how it views the matter as a whole?

(2004/C 84 E/0876)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0351/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Travel agencies: serious difficulties for operators and customers

Travel agencies are currently experiencing serious difficulties as a result of the crisis in the tourism sector,
which suffered a recession as a result of the attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001, fears of the spread of
infectious diseases, price increases linked to the introduction of the euro and fears of air disasters and wars.
The situation is now becoming worse because many European airlines have decided to substantially cut the
commission paid to agencies, in order to reduce their debts and meet the needs of the market. The recent
crisis affecting Alitalia, which led to it to take such a decision, was only the latest in a series of events
which continue to have an impact on other operators in the sector. Air France, Iberia, Lufthansa, Tyrolean
and British Airways have also already announced drastic cuts in commission. In order not to lose their