The latest distribution news, launches and more from around the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in May 2013.
Friday 31 May 2013:- Travelport signs new content agreement with Air France-KLM. The multi-year agreement also includes fares and availability from Air France spin-off HOP!. The new deal allows Travelport-connected agents to access some ancillary services from the carriers such as Economy Comfort and Seat Plus products.
Wednesday 29 May 2013:- Amadeus and Air Bagan agree distribution deal. The Mynamar airline will use Amadeus to distribution its fares and availability for its services for the first time. Agents worldwide will have the ability to search and book tickets on the carrier, which currently carries around 400,000 passengers a year on its network of 19 destinations, including international hops to Thailand.
- Orbitz for Business has extended its contract with SilverRail Technologies to continue delivering online rail search and booking capabilities to US business travelers.
- Travelport completes migration of OTP Travel to Galileo GDS. The Hungarian travel agency network agreed to switch to Galileo for distribution services late last year and is also now using Travelport's Smartpoint App and Rapid Reprice technology.
- Shams Abu Dhabi Travels signs distribution deal with Travelport. The new, multi-year agreement gives the United Arab Emirates-based travel agency continued access to core GDS services as well as e-Tracker ticket system and the Smartpoint search and booking app.
- InterGlobe Quotient spearheads Rooms & More for Travelport in India. As official distributor for Galileo in India, ITQ will roll out Rooms & More to agents around India, giving them access to the platform's one million plus hotel offers and 450,000 properties around the world.
Saturday 25 May 2013:- Travelport board of directors approve equity plan. The Travelport Worldwide Limited board gave the thumbs up to the 2013 equity scheme and also approved and released details of time-based and performance-based restricted share units (RSUs) to senior executives within the organisation. More details in an 8K filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Thursday 23 May 2013:Wednesday 22 May 2013:- Sabre signs new distribution agreement with United Airlines. The signing of the long-term, full-content agreement with the carrier will also see some ancillary products and services, including its Economy Plus seats, available in to Sabre-connected agents.
- OpenJaw Technologies secures major deal in China through TravelSky. State-owned distribution system Travelsky will work alongside OpenJaw to bring the Ireland-based tech provider's T-Retailing platform to 30 domestic carriers in the country. The service will each carrier to sell flights, hotels, car rental and activities on their own websites, including the up-selling of ancillary products. eMarketer predicts online travel sales in China will hit $48 billion by 2016, up from the current level of $11 billion.
- Travelport signs up Jet2 and Norwegian to merchandising platform. The pair become the latest carriers to join the recently launched system, giving agents the ability to obtain fares and availability through the Aggregated Shopping service rather than a multiple sources and platform. EasyJet was the launch customer for the wider merchandising system, a platform that now also includes Air France, Alitalia, Aegean, Air New Zealand and KLM.
- Amadeus unveils Cruise Shop facility for agents. The tool gives users a list of previous searches appears on the user dashboard, comprehensive ship and itinerary information and admin services for individual agents.
Tuesday 21 May 2013:- Sabre snaps up hospitality distribution customer in shape of Abidos Hotels. The Middle East chain of properties will use the SynXis Central Reservation System to distribute content and availability to Sabre-connected agent partners.
Thursday 16 May- Sabre is enabling Air France-KLM to offer pre-paid baggage via existing ATPCo and IATA technology standards. Agents can sell the ancillary alongside an airfare.
Thursday 9 May 2013:- Amadeus and American Airlines agree long-term distribution deal. The long-term partnership gives Amadeus-connected agents access to the carrier's fares and inventory and is expected to pave the way for integration with ancillary products via an XML connection. The news follows similar deals signed between AA with Travelportand Sabre in recent months.
Wednesday 8 May 2013:- Amadeus and Thai Airways sign full content agreement. The flag carrier of Thailand will provide fares, schedules and availability across its network of routes and destinations and includes the new Thail Smile brand.
- PathwayGDS inks deal with Intuitive Systems for holiday home distribution. Nearly 100,000 properties (chalets, gites, condos etc) from PathwayGDS will not be included in the Intuitive platform, giving it wider exposure into a number of OTAs and tour operators.
- Travelport and Destinations of the World sign accommodation agreement. The partnership sees around 80,000 properties from the Middle East-based wholesaler into the Rooms & More agent platform.
Thursday 2 May 2013:- Travelport and Porter Airlines extend full content partnership. The airline will push all fares and inventory to Apollo, Galileo and Worldspan-connected agents around the world, as well as on the Agencia desktop service in Canada.
NB:Global network image via Shutterstock.