GDS news: Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - August 2011

Product news, releases, projects and more from the global distribution systems during August 2011 - all here, in one easy read.

Most recent updates first...

Wednesday 31 August 2011:

Travelport has hired former-TWgroup chief executive Simon Ferguson as its regional director for UK & Ireland. Ferguson joins from Travelzoo, where he was appointed as general manager for destinations and networks less than two months ago. He replaces Jerome Moisan who is leaving the position to pursue interests outside the industry.

Sunday 28 August 2011:

Sunday 21 August 2011:

Travelport agrees extension to distribution agreement with US Airways. Details are sketchy but the carrier will continue to provide published fares and inventory to Galileo and Worldspan-connected agencies "well into 2012". The distribution agreement will affect agencies only in the US and Caribbean.
American Airlines now talking Direct-Connect with American Express, no deal though

Thursday 18 August 2011:

Harald Eisenaecher appointed senior vice president of Sabre Travel Network in EMEA. Eisenaecher steps into the shoes of Martin Cowley who is heading back to Australia to become senior vice president for business development in Asia-Pacific. Joining from outside the travel industry, former-eBay MD at eBay Germany, Eisenaecher was most recently SVP for personal and social networking at Deutsche Telekom.
Concur partners with Abacus for Aisa-Pacific push. The deal gives Concur the opportunity to give clients access to the Abacus suite of airline, hotel and car rental content.
American Airlines reassures agencies over Sabre impasse
Credit agency downgrades Travelport rating amid debt concerns
Can the latest dip into the global hotel ID swamp work?
Ten reasons why Big Data will change the travel industry

Friday 12 August 2011:

All Seasons Travel signs long-term technology and distribution deal with Travelport. The agreement sees the travel management company use the e-Pricing and Rapid Reprice platforms as well as connect agents to air, hotel, car rental and cruise product through the Worldspan GDS.
Sabre upgrades travel agent tools on Red Workspace
Travelport: GDS Code of Conduct out of date, needs level playing field
Travelport unveils agency desktop upgrade, converts other GDS languages

Tuesday 9 August 2011:

Travelport creates new business operation in Kazakhstan. The entry into the former-Soviet Union state comes as Global Travel Distribution Kazakhstan (part of Singapore-based Global Travel Services and an existing Travelport distributor) is confirmed as the company leading the new division. Khwaja Emran ul Haque and Daraz Mahmud (both of GTS) will head the organisation.
Sabre Holdings chairman and CEO Sam Gilliland has joined cloud computing service Rackspace as a member of its board of directors.
Travelport announces Derek Sharp as managing director for the Americas. Reporting to chief commercial officer Kurt Ekert, Sharop will also continue to have responsibility for the organisation's Airline IT Solutions Business division.
First look: GDS Code of Conduct questionnaire sent to stakeholders

Sunday 7 August 2011:

Friday 5 August 2011:

Travelport: GDS share gains at Priceline.
GDS squabbles, how they relate to rail and evolution of the model.
Travelport first half 2011 results – top-line digest.
Travelport-connected travel agents get enhanced content from United Airlines. The agreement will be US agents the ability to sell Economy Plus seats through existing desktop and workflow systems.
GetThere signs two major travel management agency deals in the UK. The Sabre-run trip management service has struck partnerships with Portman Travel and Grosvenor Travel. The Portman deal is an extension to its existing agreement, while Grosvenor is a brand new customer.
Amadeus first half 2011 results – top-line digest.

Tuesday 2 August 2011:

Travelport announces new vice chairman of its board of directors. Douglas Steenland will serve on the board's compensation, audit and executive committees. Steenland was most recently president and CEO of Northwest Airline and now also serves as senior advisor to the Blackstone Private Equity Group, parent company of Travelport.
Sabre Travel Network launches merchandising tools with Air New Zealand. Using the Sabre Red system, agents will be able to book a range of ancillary products through the GDS, starting initially with pre-paid bags and eventually extending across the range of product lines on the carrier.
Sabre's Lastminute.com gets another new boss, this time Expedia exec Matthew Crummack.
American Airlines flights to remain on Orbitz into 2012.
American Airlines and Travelport extend agreement beyond 2011.
Security issues exposed as Travelport Opinions promotes diets on Twitter.

Previous GDS updates:

Amadeus