IAAI polls this October
After the association’s Maharashtra Chapter elections, IAAI is now getting ready for its national elections combined with its convention in October.
The new team that took over the Managing Committee for IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) Maharashtra Chapter recently was more or less unchanged. Chetan Momaya continues as the President of the Maharashtra Chapter, while Pune-based Devendra Ghule and Aruna Shetty will take over as Vice Presidents.
Speaking about the immediate plan for the team, Momaya said, “We have been talking to the Municipal Corporation o Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and have already shared our suggestions to tackle some of the issues that we travel agents are having with them. Tour operators can now function 24x7 provided every employee in the agency puts in not more than 48 hours per week.”
Since the Chapter elections were combined with the AGM, Biji Eapen, National President of IAAI, was also present. He said, “Our elections are very different. It is open to the media and the new team takes an oath.”
He also revealed that the national body elections will be held along with its annual convention in October possibly in Chennai after all the state/chapter elections are over. “The new teams will be coming for the national elections. We are looking at Tamil Nadu this time and not Delhi or Mumbai because two of our main leaders who passed away recently are from this state and we want to pay homage to them. We are currently looking at the feasibility of conducting our elec- tions and convention there,” Eapen said.
Updating the members about the association’s case filed for commission, he said, “Our struggle with the commissions started in 2008 and now we are very close to reaching a verdict by the Kerala High Court. The final hearing will be by August end with the commission mandated to us again.” He also voiced the travel trade fraternity’s mutual worry regarding weekly payments. “More than 32 countries out of 162 enjoy a credit period of 30 days. Even Greece gets 15 days! Then why India on weekly basis?” he questioned.