Travelport said Thursday that 150 airlines are now live with its array of merchandising products, -- which is 100 more than at the start of 2015.
The company had previously announced reaching 100 airlines that had signed on to use its Rich Content & Branding system. But as of today, agents worldwide have access to the live rich content from 150 airlines.
Last August, Travelport's chief executive Gordon Wilson predicted that nearly half of the world’s airlines, or about 220, may eventually sign up for the system, which lets them retail their full array of products similarly to how they would on their own branded websites.
Given current trends, that prediction may come true -- depending on how you count the number of relevant commercial airlines in the world. Travelport recently signed up British Airways, Iberia, JetBlue, and SAS.
Recently Travelport began enabling carriers to make tailored or personalised offers to individual travel agencies and the corporations that travel management companies (TMCs) work for.
For instance, British agents can now add on limo service to business class tickets quickly in the workflow.
It's been three years to the day since the UK-based travel services company unveiled its Rich Content and Branding suite. Airlines can use the suite to help upsell customers on ancillary services, such as checked luggage fees, and to de-commoditize their products by better communicating what perks are included with any purchase, such as with fare families.
Travelport acts as a middleman for travel agencies, tour operators and other companies, helping them book flights, cruises, hotels and rental cars for customers. But the part of its business it wants to grow is the part that works with airlines, hotel chains, and car rental brands to help them woo travelers and handle pricing and booking.
Earlier: How airline retailing impacts agencies and TMCs