Editorial Summary

Hebei Civil Airlines is threatening to take legal action against online travel services provider Ctrip (Nasdaq: CTRP) over a handbook misprint, reports Carnoc.com quoting a Hebei Civil Airlines employee. According to the report, Hebei Civil Airlines lost RMB 10,000 in shuttle fares due to incorrect shuttle bus information printed in the third edition of Ctrip's October 2007 handbook. The handbook erroneously lists the RMB-20-per-person Hebei shuttle as free with a same-day air ticket, said the employee. According to the employee, the information, which Hebei Civil Airlines never asked Ctrip to publish, has necessitated the approval of 500 free shuttle rides.

After February negotiations, Ctrip's Beijing subsidiary agreed to pay the airline RMB10,000 in compensation and publish a public retraction, said the report. By March 13, the subsidiary's customer service manager informed the airline that it could not go through with the agreement, but, according to subsidiary sales director Chen Gang, starting on March 14 Ctrip would reimburse Hebei Civil Airlines for any ensuing losses resulting from the misprint, said the report.

Ctrip confirmed on Monday that the company is in the process of resolving the conflict.