British Airways' commercial manager Diane Corrie (second left) with the top three sellers for the company last year. Represented are (from left) Joy Charlton of Trafalgar Travel, who finished second, Ann-Marie Chin of Total Travel, who took first place, and Cornel Cohen of Compact Travel, in third. The occasion was BA's Best Sellers luncheon at the Terra Nova Hotel on Thursday, May 17. -Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Even if you're a big airline like British Airways (BA), without travel agents selling your product, you won't have many passengers.

So, to show appreciation for the hard-working agencies, the BA team hosted some of its best sellers to a serene luncheon at the Terra Nova Hotel on Thursday, May 17.

Commercial manager for the Caribbean, Diane Corrie, thanked the travel agents for their support in 2006, which she described as a challenging year for BA and the airline sector in general.

The rising fuel prices and the strength of the British pound (thus making it more expensive for travellers to get to the UK) were two of the obstacles facing BA last year. The security alert in September and severe weather in December all made for a 'turbulent' year.

Despite that, she proudly revealed that BA's Club World and World Traveller Plus packages increased, and trips to Western Europe have increased.

She also outlined the company's thrust to implement online check-ins which makes the passengers travel experience much easier.

Announcement was made about new routes out of Gatwick Airport (including to Caribbean neighbours Trinidad and Tobago). There will also be an overhauling of the already popular Club World package which Caribbean travellers will see early next year.

Total Travel Services was the number one revenue producer, with Trafalgar Travel finishing second and Compact Travel placing third. Pauline's Travel took the most improved BA Holidays package sales.