TORONTO — The Chair of the world’s major travel agency alliance wants to see the words ‘fuel surcharge’ removed from the travel industry’s vocabulary.

Jayson Westbury said the issue of continuing high fuel surcharges despite the steep fall in oil prices was resonating around the world.

Speaking in Toronto after a semi-annual board meeting of the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA) hosted by ACTA, Westbury, from the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, said three things are essential to fly – “a seat, a seat belt and fuel” – and fuel should not be a separate charge.

ACTA President and COO David McCaig, who is Treasurer of WTAAA, said one of ACTA’s main issues this year is to lobby for transparency of airfare pricing across Canada.

WTAAA represents travel agency associations that account for 70% of the world’s BSP including those in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa and India.

Air Canada hosted a reception following the meeting where Duncan Bureau, Vice President, Global Sales, talked about the carrier’s fleet with the 787 now flying to Asia and Europe. The carrier has 10 in service with 40 more to come plus 135 737 MAX also on order.