Close on the heels of Air-India's decision to slash commission of travel agents from the existing seven per cent to five per cent, the agents have decided to suspend sale of tickets of the national carrier from Friday.

"Our 2,000 members across the country would suspend sale of tickets of A-I and its subsidiaries such as Air-India Express and no bookings shall be made on these two airlines effective April 1, 2005," Travel Agents Association of India Balbir Mayal told PTI in Mumbai on Thursday.

A-I along with European carriers, Singapore Airlines and Asiana Airlines, has decided to cut agents' commission from May 1 in line with the global practice of cutting distribution costs.

"We are also boycotting all social functions, award ceremonies or any kind of official invitations received from the airlines who have sent letters of reduction in commission.

This shall also cover their tourism promotion boards," Mayal added.

The agents will also return all promotional material of A-I and will remove all publicity posters from their office premises.

Regarding inconvenience to customers through this ban, Mayal said the agents had informed the customers and any one planning to fly abroad could be accomodated on any airline other than A-I.