How To Be An IATA Travel Agent?

The airline's market is a large part of the travel and tourism industry, and numerous online travel agencies focus on this area as the only niche. The travel industry includes more than 60,000 ITA certified travel agents globally. These agents sell $220 billion in airline tickets from about 250 airlines. At the same time, an important question arises as to whether certification by ITA is mandatory. Travel businesses also explore how to become an IATA travel agent.

If you have an online travel portal or you are thinking of launching it, it is important to know that while IATA is not required to be certified, your business needs to be professional from IATA. A professional certificate can be useful. ITA is a trading organization of airlines around the world, mainly with 290 airlines from 117 countries. If your online travel agency provides flight booking services, these numbers will give you a basic idea of ​​how important an IATA certification is if the IATA travel agency provides flight booking services.

So, before we start, let's understand why IATA is good for travel agents and what are its benefits.

Why do Travel Agents need IATA?

An IATA travel agency is well-known in the district of the globe considering that a skilled agency. IATA certification helps build customer credibility. It also significantly increases the revenue of your travel business and creates a strong link between airlines and travel agents. IATA certification benefits travel agents in several ways:

• It provides access to online travel portals to IAT airline members. The IATA sales agency agreement enables them to sell international and domestic tickets.
• IATA certification ensures that dealings with airlines are fair and follow standard procedures.
• Travel agents receive a uniquely identifiable ITA number code for the global travel industry.
• The IATA approved agent logo enhances the reputation and brand exposure of the online travel agency.
• IATA ID cards offer travel agents special deals and more than 1,000 providers.
• The IATA BSP, a billing and resettlement plan, facilitates efficient receipt and payment between travel providers, airlines, and travel agencies.

How to get ITA certification?

To become an ITA certified agent, the following steps need to be taken.

• You need to meet certain standards in the Travel Agent Handbook, such as:

1. Financial record and standing agent assessment
2. Staff qualifications
3. Premises identification and access
4. Security and procedures

• Show proof of legal registration travel agent or business, including business license, insurance record, tax form, etc.
• Pay IATA certification fees more than private agencies and individual travel agents, which is higher for the corporate travel business.
• Pay higher ITA certification fees than private agencies and individual travel agents, which is higher for corporate travel business.
• After all actions, the travel agent is accepted as an ISA licensed travel agent.
• Offer insurance records of your work as a travel agent. On the other hand, this possibly will not be obligatory if your travel agency has 5 years of experience.

How much does it cost to become an ITA travel agent?

The main cost of becoming an IATA Travel Agent is the accreditation fee. Irregular and confidential travel agencies have to pay US 16 165, while commercial travel companies have to pay IATA for endorsement 360.

Who is eligible to apply for IATA approval?

• In addition to cargo, GSA, MSO, Travelsellers.com locations, and TRIO are not eligible to apply for IATA / IATN ID cards, others who apply for IATA certification The following are eligible to pay:
• Independent consultants working for a travel agency have a written agreement or contract to comply with the rules and regulations.
• The sole owner, shareholders, partners, or shareholders of a travel agency, provided they are listed on the IATA Agency's records and own at least 20% of the company's shares.
• Managers, directors, employees, or any other person who receives compensation from marketing, management, finance, operations, or sales in the travel business

What are the eligibility criteria?

The eligibility criteria for travel agency applicants are as follows:

• Applicants must be over 18 years of age at the time of application
• Applicants must work at least 20 hours/week in a travel agency.
• They must be paid for working for a travel agency.

Although ITA registration is not required to start an online travel agency, it is beneficial for travel agents in terms of increasing revenue and gaining credibility. So, to become an IATA Travel Agent, just follow the above-mentioned guidelines and steps and observe your sales sky skiing after getting approval. If you want to start your own online travel agency you can contact companies like Enuke which help Travel Companies with Online Travel Solutions.