TAIPEI: Travel agents expressed dissatisfaction yesterday over the Civil Aeronautics Administration's (CAA's) intervention in the sale of seats on additional flights that will be operated during the Chinese New Year holiday between Taiwan and four popular mainland destinations.

The Travel agents association said the CAA's intervention has resulted in unfair trade, and it vowed to report the matter today to the Fair Trade Commission.

The issue arose from a CAA directive Tuesday that airlines offering additional flights during the Chinese New Year holiday period should not begin selling tickets before Wednesday for the four popular mainland destinations - Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shenzhen - and that ticket prices should not exceed 85 percent of the face value.

Also, bookings should be made on the air carriers' websites, instead of with travel agents, during the first five days of special ticket sales, the CAA stipulated.

The airlines complained that on the first day, bookings were simply "miserable," and that even for the most popular flights, the best reservation rate was 30 percent.

Hsu Kao-ching, secretary general of the travel agents' association, complained that the CAA's aim was to intervene in the market to help mainland business.

Hsu said that many Taiwan businessmen operating on the mainland prefer to book their tickets early. The CAA's restrictions mean that they can book tickets only online, which is "torture" for those who are unfamiliar with the process, he added.

The CAA knows that there is high demand during Chinese New Year for two-way flights, he said, adding that many Taiwan businessmen have asked their travel agents to book them on mainland airlines.

Ticket sales and bookings are part of the legal business of travel agents, Hsu noted, adding that the CAA's directive on Chinese New Year flights has deprived travel agencies of businesses.

Taiwan airlines have planned a total of 100 additional flights to various destinations on the mainland during the Chinese New Year to serve Taiwan businessmen and their families. Half of the flights are to and from the greater Shanghai area.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 01/29/2010 page2)