IATA Bans All Fly540 E-ticket Booking

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has ordered all travel agents to suspend issuing tickets and receiving payments on behalf of Kenya’s low-cost airline, Fly540.

According to IATA, Fly540 breached its Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) rules under Resolution 850.

In a letter to the airline and all travel agents, the issuing of tickets or receiving payment on behalf of Fly540 is to cease with immediate effect.

Under the Resolution, IATA can order the ceasing of issuing of tickets of an airline if it owes payments via the BSP, when it ceases scheduled passenger operations, or when it runs into bankruptcy.

“BSP travel agents must immediately suspend all ticketing services on behalf of Fly540, including the use of all automated systems for processing of refunds,” said IATA in a seemingly angry letter.

With the directive from IATA, passengers who had already booked flights with Fly540 will not be able to fly but wait for the travel agents to agree with the airline on the refunds.

Fly540 is among Kenya’s low-cost airline that operates both locally and across the East African region. Last year, it was among the airlines that were blacklisted from flying into Tanzania following a row between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.