Biman asks travel agents not to use Amadeus system for ticket booking
Bdnews, Dhaka
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has told travel agents that it will not accept ticket booking through Amadeus system following a court order suspending operation of the Global Travel Distribution (Bangla) Ltd (GTD), owned by Amadeus India Pvt Ltd that represents Amadeus International in Bangladesh. Earlier, Bangladesh Bank and Ministry of Industries suspended the operation of Amadeus India in Bangladesh. In letters on December 8, 2005 to all Biman-approved travel agents, the national flag carrier said bookings through Amadeus GDS system will not be honoured on any BG flight until February 18, 2006 due to the order of the High Court. AM Quamrul Hasan Khondker, deputy general Manager of Biman's Sales Promotion Section, wrote the letters. Earlier on October 2, 2005, a High Court Division bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Nirmalendu Dhar passed an order stopping operation of Amadeus in Bangladesh. The court order came following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Youth Economist Forum. The court directed secretaries of ministries of industries, telecommunications and home affairs, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Communications (BTRC) and governor of Bangladesh Bank to stop operation of business of Global Travel Distribution (Bangla) Ltd (GTD) and Amadeus India Pvt Ltd. The court also asked BTRC chairman, all internet service providers including Rank IT, Optimax Communication, Bangladesh Internet Exchange Ltd, Dominox and Biman Bangladesh Airlines to block Amadeus's website, www.amadeusvista.com, from their respective host through which Amadeus is continuing "illegal" business.
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