Product news, releases, projects, related analysis and more from the global distribution systems during March 2013 - all here, in one easy read.
More recent updates first:
Thursday 28 March 2013:
- Sabre unveils SNCF app for agents. The Sabre Rail SNCF tool will be available in the Red App Centre from April 1 and allows agents to search and book all SNCF products in a single system. Fares and seat availability are included as well as being able to filter results by passenger type or product. Passenger data from the SNCF frequent traveller programme can be integrated into the system.
- Holiday Genie and Travelport agree IT partnership. As part of the long-term deal, leisure travel agency Holiday Genie will migrate to the Universal API for services alongside using a number of search and e-pricing tools from Travelport.
- In online travel booking, mobile isn’t all mobile
Wednesday 27 March 2013:Tuesday 26 March 2013:Monday 25 March 2013:Thursday 21 March 2013:- Sabre appoints new chief product and technology officer. Deborah Kerr joins the company from Fair Isaac (where she was executive vice president technology officer) and has previously held positions with HP, Peregrine Systems and NASA.
- Travelport launches Smartpoint app on the Worldspan Go desktop. The service includes an interactive calendar, queuing system for agent workflow and multiple search functionality.
- Sabre brings in new chief financial officer, IPO dial goes up another notch
Wednesday 20 March 2013:- Travelport and Aegean Airlines agree merchandising deal for agents. Travelport-connected customers will be able to secure ancillary services on the carrier from April 2013, fulfilled through an EMD (Electronic Miscellaneous Document).
- Sabre and All Nippon Airlines unite for reservation technology services. The Japanese carrier will use the Sabre Qik tool to bring in a new graphical interface to its reservation system, joining the likes of British Airways, Copa Airlines and EVA Air which also use the same service.
- A quarter of US mobile users buy travel products [INFOGRAPHIC]
Tuesday 19 March 2013:Monday 18 March 2013:- Travelport signs technology agreement with Gray Dawes. The multi-year partnership sees the UK-based business travel agency enlist the help of the Universal Desktop for its product interface for agents, as well as use of other services provided by Travelport.
Saturday 16 march 2013:- Travelport and Alitalia complete ancillary services roll-out. Distribution of bags, lounge access and insurance can now be integrated and completed through electronic miscellaneous documents (EMD) when agents book with the carrier on the Travelport GDS.
Friday 15 March 2013:- Travelport agrees new distributor platform in Tunisia. The latest expansion on the African continent by Travelport comes after the appointment of SIR Tunisie SARL as its distribution partner in the country, giving Galileo products and related services to agents for search and booking travel.
- Amadeus signs distribution agreement with China Airlines Group. The long-term deal sees the carrier's fares, availability and functionality made available to Amadeus-connected agents within Asia as other agent channels. Elsewhere, both China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines have guaranteed similar services will be available at the same levels as their existing websites and call centres.
- Sabre unveils Air Extras tool or Sabre Explore. The service will be available to agents in the Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific region, allowing them to price and secure ancillary services through the existing Sabre Explore booking engine.
Wednesday 13 March 2013:Monday 11 March 2013:Wednesday 6 March 2013:Monday 4 March 2013:Friday 1 March 2013:Previous GDS updates:- Travel distribution news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - February 2013
- Travel distribution news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - January 2013
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - December 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - November 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - October 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - September 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - August 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - July 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - June 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - May 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - April 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - March 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - February 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - January 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - December 2011
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - November 2011
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - October 2011
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - September 2011
- GDS news: Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - August 2011
- GDS news: Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - July 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - June 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - May 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - April 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - March 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - February 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - January 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - December 2010
- GDS Bitesize - January 2010 to November 2010
NB: World map technology image via Shutterstock.