MONTREAL — Air Canada Vacations is throwing its support behind its valued travel agent partners by disputing chargebacks on their behalf.

In response to the unprecedented effect of COVID-19 on the travel industry, ACV continues to collaborate with financial institutions and government bodies to reduce the mutual risks associated with chargebacks.

The move follows similar initiatives from other major tour operators including Sunwing and Transat.

“The tumultuous impact of the crisis requires a coordinated response from all the players in the industry,” said Nino Montagnese, Managing Director. “Our focus is on ensuring that we can work together to reduce the financial burden on agents and implement additional mitigation measures so that we can collectively restore operations when the time comes.”

Subject to an approved chargeback by a credit card company, the burden of payment will not be passed to travel agents, he adds. Air Canada Vacations will be disputing these chargebacks on the agent’s behalf. Should the company require more information to dispute the chargeback, it will contact travel agents directly to obtain communications between the agency and the shared customer.

“I want to thank our travel partners for the hard work and dedication they employ each day in overcoming the current challenges we are all facing,” says Montagnese.

More information can be found on travel agents’ ACV&Me accounts.

Montagnese also addressed travel agents in a video launched as part of Travelweek’s #OneTravelIndustry video series. To watch the video click here.