Logo of Qunar.com [Photo: cnr.cn]

Nine Airlines have suspended cooperation with Qunar, a Chinese online travel agency, The move has sparked heated discussion on the future of online travel services in China.

Sichuan Airline announced on its official website on Tuesday that it is closing its flagship store on Qunar, becoming the ninth domestic airline to do so.

Yang Yang, a staffer from China's Spring Airlines, says cooperation with travel agencies is a two-edged sword for airline companies.

"Airline companies need travel agencies to help sell large numbers of tickets, while they have to pay high agency fees and sometimes extra fees."

All 9 Airlines cited a growing number of passenger complaints about extra charges and refunds as the reason for cutting ties with Qunar.

This traveler says she encountered several problems after booking a flight using Qunar.

"Tickets sometimes are abruptly cancelled with no reason; or the price of the ticket increases after reservation; or extra high fees are charged after ticket cancellation."

Meanwhile, refund fees charged by different travel agencies are not consistent.

Jian Feng is a lawyer with Shanghai Xucan Law Firm.

"Travel agencies always use un-equal information to deprive consumers' of their rights."

Other experts believe that the airline companies are also seeking to boost their own online selling platforms.

Liu Simin is the vice president of the China Society for Future Tourism Studies.

"Although travel agencies have their service problems, more airline companies want are to increase the proportion of their direct sales and get more public attention to their websites and apps."

China's civil aviation authorities issued a request last year for domestic airlines to increase direct sales by 50%, while cutting distribution fees by 50%.