Resistance to Lufthansa’s introduction of a €16 fee for bookings made via GDS is gathering momentum last week as a group of business travel agents has announced a ‘period of non-cooperation’ with the German airline.

The 66 members of Advantage Focus Partnerships have imposed restrictions on training, fam trips, marketing, account manager sales calls and similar activities with Lufthansa.

They have stopped short of threatening not to sell tickets on the German carrier and its subsidiaries, Austrian, Swiss and Brussels Airlines, which will introduce the Distribution Cost Charge on Tuesday September 1.

The airline accounts for 8% of the consortium’s total airline sales revenue, probably the same as EasyJet.

“We should make it clear that the 66 members of the Advantage Focus Partnership will continue to sell Lufthansa flights as per their clients’ wishes, and dialogue will continue with the airline’s senior management.”