- First Merchandising Solution by a GDS to Support All Air Canada Fare and
Flight Pass Products -
LANGLEY, UK, and MONTREAL, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Galileo, a leading
global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Travelport, and Air
Canada today announced a multi-year agreement for a revolutionary graphical
agency desktop solution that will provide Galileo-connected Canadian travel
agents with access to the full range and attributes of Air Canada's
innovative a-la- carte fare products and Flight Passes.
Air Canada will be the first airline to use the desktop solution to
distribute its products and services. This innovative new application
developed by Galileo, utilizes Air Canada's direct-connect application
programming interface (API) platform called "AC2U." and integrates Air
Canada's web only content with content from Galileo's GDS. Galileo plans to
make the new desktop application available to travel agents in Canada in
the fourth quarter of 2007.
Galileo is the first and only GDS to offer a full merchandising
solution capable of supporting the full range of Air Canada's fare and
Flight Pass products. The new desktop solution offers Galileo agencies full
product descriptions, the ease of a graphical display and prompts the user
when product options are available. All information is seamlessly
integrated into the travel agent accounting and back-office systems.
"Galileo is embracing new ways to do business and we are especially
pleased to partner with Air Canada, an innovative and forward-thinking
carrier, as our launch customer for this new solution," said Dave Falter,
president, Galileo Americas.
Added Jean Collier, vice president, Supplier Services, Galileo
Americas, "As airlines around the world roll-out a variety of
non-traditional optional services, it is critical to provide carriers and
their customers with merchandising tools to sell these services. At the
same time, it is important to protect an airline's brand integrity and to
merchandise products as they would via their own distribution channels."
Air Canada's vice president, Sales and Product Distribution, Marc
Rosenberg, commented: "Today's announcement marks the successful outcome of
many months of close collaboration with Galileo to develop a robust, user-
friendly solution that meets Air Canada's merchandising requirements. We
are satisfied that Galileo subscribers in Canada will soon have a powerful,
automated tool that will help them enhance productivity and customer
service, by offering the full range of Air Canada product features."
The new desktop solution will enable Galileo subscribers to shop, price
and book all Air Canada domestic, U.S. transborder and international
itineraries and fares including Tango, Tango Plus, Latitude, Latitude Plus
and Executive, as well as the capability to book using Air Canada's
complete range of Flight Pass products.
The new desktop was developed to meet the needs of Air Canada, the
world's first network carrier to offer its customers a-la-carte pricing
with the ability to choose among product attributes they wish to pay for,
such as advance seat assignment on its lowest Tango fare, onboard meals and
lounge access, or opt out of to obtain a discount such as checked baggage,
refund- ability and frequent flyer mile accumulation.
About Galileo
Galileo is a global technology leader. Its core business is providing
electronic global distribution services for the travel industry through its
computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative,
Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of travel
inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and corporate
customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. Galileo, a
Travelport brand, is headquartered in Langley, UK and has offices
worldwide. Visit http://www.galileo.com.
About Travelport
Travelport operates Galileo, a global distribution system (GDS) and
GTA, a wholesaler of travel content. In addition, it also owns a
controlling interest in Orbitz Worldwide, a leading, global online travel
company. With 2006 revenues of $2.6 billion, Travelport has approximately
6000 employees and operates in 130 countries.
Travelport is a private company owned by The Blackstone Group of New
York, Technology Crossover Ventures of Palo Alto, California and One Equity
Partners of New York.
About Air Canada
Air Canada's achievements have been honored recently by consumers and
the industry. This year, Washington D.C.-based Air Transport World, gave
Air Canada the magazine's Market Leadership Award based on the airline's
success in implementing an innovative and transparent pricing structure,
its use of online technology to meet consumers' needs and its fleet-wide
renewal with a consistent, market-leading onboard product among North
American airlines. In 2007, Air Canada was also ranked "Best Airline in
North America" for the second time in three years in a independent
passenger survey of 14 million air travelers conducted by Skytrax. In
addition, Air Canada was named favorite carrier by Canadian travel agents
in a survey of travel agents conducted by Baxter Travel Media.
Montreal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air
transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on
five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial
airline in the world and serves 32 million customers annually with a fleet
consisting of 335 aircraft. Air Canada is a founding member of Star
Alliance, providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation
network.
SOURCE Galileo and Air Canada
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Related links:
http://www.galileo.com/
CONTACT:
Jill Brenner of Galileo Americas,
+1-973-939-1325, Jill.brenner@travelport.com; or Isabelle Arthur
(Montreal), +1-514-422-5788, or Angela Mah (Vancouver),
+1-604-270-5741, or Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), +1-416-263-5576,
all of Air Canada
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