US Airways To Provide Travel Agents Access to All Web Fares
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Galileo International, a leading
global distribution services (GDS) company, today announced it will institute
a new level of participation for airline customers, Preferred Fares(SM), which
will reduce airlines' distribution fees in exchange for providing Galileo
access to all the carrier's published air fares. This new option offers
airlines an opportunity to reduce their fees by approximately 10 percent for a
three-year term provided they commit to the highest level of participation in
the Galileo GDS.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/GALILEOLOGO2 )
US Airways has enrolled in Preferred Fares, and will distribute all
published air fares and services, including US Airways' popular E-Saver Web
fares, promotions, special services, and other inventory, through Galileo's
global distribution system. The additional fares and travel content will be
made available to all Galileo U.S. point-of-sale travel agencies, both offline
and online, including Cendant's affiliated Web sites Cheap Tickets, Trip.com
and Highwire, a corporate booking provider. US Airways will not require
Galileo agents to pay a fee for these services.
"We applaud US Airways for taking a leading position to more broadly
distribute its fares and other travel services through the GDS network, which
is still the most cost-effective travel distribution channel. This option
addresses airlines' interest in lowering costs and increasing volume, and our
interest in restoring valuable inventory to travel agencies to provide
consumers greater, unrestricted choice," said Sam E. Galeotos, president and
CEO of Galileo International and head of Cendant's Travel Distribution
Services Division. "Galileo's Preferred Fares is part of Cendant's broader
strategy to remove costs from travel transactions, which we believe is the
preferred solution to increase the efficiency and viability of all travel
industry participants over the long term."
"We are pleased that we can work cooperatively with Galileo to
significantly expand the availability of our special 'Web fares,' and at the
same time control our distribution costs. Through this agreement, we are
moving closer to our goal of reducing customer confusion and frustration in
accessing discounted air fares," said B. Ben Baldanza, US Airways senior vice
president, marketing and planning. "We believe this agreement brings value to
our traveling customers, travel agents, Galileo and US Airways."
Galileo-connected travel agencies and travel management companies will
have access to an expanded range of US Airways' fares and services effective
immediately. In addition to all published fares, Galileo travel agencies and
their consumers will also gain access to any US Airways' special features and
promotions the airline may provide to other GDSs or distribution outlets.
These features could include such benefits as special fare promotions,
priority waitlist option, special needs requests, advanced check in, and
special consideration for waiving ticket restrictions.
"World Travel Partners is pleased by Galileo's move with other GDSs to
more broadly distribute airlines' most attractive fares and services," said
Michael Buckman, president and CEO of World Travel Partners. "The real
winners in this deal are travel consumers who gain equal access to all fares,
regardless where they purchase travel. We are very encouraged by this action
of US Airways and hope other airlines follow suit."
Cendant and Galileo are currently in discussion with multiple airlines
about the Preferred Fares option. As part of the program, a carrier must
commit to a three-year agreement at the highest level of participation in the
Galileo GDS, referred to as Inside Availability(R), and agree to provide all
published inventory to Galileo, excluding opaque (unbranded) fares.
In return for an airline's broader access and high participation level,
Galileo will reduce its fees for Inside Availability services by approximately
10 percent, which will result in an average savings of approximately $0.40 per
segment booked at the Preferred Fares participation level.
About Galileo International
Galileo International 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. A
subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of Cendant's Travel
Distribution Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, New
Jersey, USA, and has offices worldwide. Visit http://www.galileo.com .
SOURCE Galileo International
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