mumbai airlines have reduced commission payable to travel agents arbitrarily and so have created a situation that is driving agents out of business said a letter sent by travel agents association of india taai members to mps and mlas this week taai an organisation which has over 2600 agents registered as members sent the letter to garner support in their fight against airlines on commissionrelated issues the troubles for agents started in 2001 when airlines reduced the commission payable to them from nine percent to seven it has turned progressively worse since then the letter conveyed as on date travel agents are neither getting commission nor transaction fee from a majority of foreign airlines operating in india the letter said adding that indian carriers too have drastically reduced their commission without any justification the latest was the july 16 decision by air india jet airways and etihad airways to reduce the commission payable to travel agents to one percent all international carriers are selling their tickets on their website at much cheaper rates than that offered to international air transport associationcertified agents and thus channelling their funds to their home country it is a loss of foreign exchange to the country the letter said the agents have demanded that airlines pay them a minimum of five percent commission on total fare