Advantage to Galileo-Connected Travel Agents Worldwide
AirAsia, Asia’s leading and largest low fare airline, is expanding its reach and distribution network by collaborating with Galileo International to have its low fares and inventory available on the Galileo GDS platform. Galileo International is a leading global distribution system (GDS), and subsidiary of Cendant Travel Distribution Services (TDS).
The launch of Galileo Flight Integrator is expected to boost revenue and enhance productivity for travel agents, as it provides Galileo-connected agents with access to AirAsia’s full range of fares including periodic promotional fares. In addition, the seamless web based service also empowers agents to conveniently access over 200 daily flights on AirAsia, allowing more choice and flexibility to book low fares thus rendering the Galileo Flight Integrator an attractive tool for travel agents.
The agreement includes AirAsia subsidiary airlines, Thailand-based Thai AirAsia and Indonesia-based Indonesia AirAsia.
According to Brad Holman, Managing Director, Airline Services, Cendant TDS APAC, this development is an incredibly exciting and significant agreement for Galileo in Asia and it will have far reaching implications for Galileo’s broader success in the region.
“AirAsia is widely acknowledged as the business leader amongst Asian low cost carriers and its decision to make its inventory available to travel agents via our GDS is testament to the value that we provide to airlines and travel agents alike,” stated Mr. Holman.
Mr. Holman went on to say that “We are particularly excited about this unique relationship with AirAsia, which underscores Cendant TDS’s drive to deliver breakthrough partnerships and diverse product offerings matched by no one in the global travel and tourism industry.”
Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia Berhad, announced that the airline was looking forward to the collaboration with Galileo, as it would mean more cost savings to travelers and corporations worldwide through the offering of AirAsia’s fares on the Galileo Flight Integrator.
Kathleen Tan, Executive Vice President, Commercial of AirAsia Berhad said “AirAsia is already an established brand name in the travel industry. This partnership with Galileo International will enable us to serve an even larger and wider network of markets that has an appetite for low fares, not previously catered for. This strategic move allows us to be more accessible, and expand our sales potential into markets where we are not represented. Likewise, we also recognize that there is an integral part of the market that is served by travel agents. Our partnership with Galileo International allows us to tap into these markets to enhance awareness of our brand globally, while positioning AirAsia as a key player in the global market.”
“We are pleased to work with a world class leader such as Galileo, in providing value-added distribution channels that engage Cendant’s broad portfolio of content channels as a means to expand into key markets across the region and beyond. Cendant’s product offerings touch on multiple links in the travel industry from hotels, leisure travel products, consumer web sites, corporate travel management channels, and ground services for tours to name just a few,” Kathleen concluded.
The collaboration, a first for both companies, is set to benefit Galileo subscribers in over 50,000 travel agencies worldwide, while introducing AirAsia for the first time to markets via a major and well-established distribution channel.
Galileo agents across the globe will be able to increase sales and grow revenue by offering AirAsia low fares extensively throughout the airline’s growing route network to over 60 destinations in nine countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau, China, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines) across the region.
Launched in 2001, AirAsia has pioneered and revolutionised air travel in Asia by providing incredibly low fares so more people can fly.
AirAsia joins over 32 other Low Cost Carriers around the world that are using the Galileo GDS as a distribution channel.
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, NJ, and has offices worldwide. Visit www.galileo.com.
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services
Cendant Corporation’s (NYSE: CD) Travel Distribution Services Division is one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel brands and distribution businesses. The division, employing nearly 9,000 people in approximately 140 countries, includes: a leading (GDS) global distribution system (Galileo), serving more than 50,000 travel agencies and over 60,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (Neat Group?, THOR?, TRUST and WizCom?); leading online travel agencies (asia-hotels.com, CheapTickets?, ebookers.com?, HotelClub.com, Lodging.com, Orbitz?, RatesToGo.com, and The Away Network); an airline market intelligence company (Shepherd Systems); an international travel technology and software company (Travelwire); a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator (Travel 2?/Travel 4?); online global corporate travel management solutions (Orbitz for Business? and Travelport?); and a leading wholesaler and global online provider of hotels, destination services, travel packages and group tours (Gullivers Travel Associates, OctopusTravel.com? and Travel Bound, Inc.).
About AirAsia
The award winning airline, AirAsia is no stranger to charting milestones throughout its four year operations. A winner of the prestigious ATW’s Market Leadership Award and Euromoney’s Best Managed Company in the Airlines and Aviation sector, AirAsia has revolutionized air travel in the region to become a leading low fare airline in Asia. The airline is also the first LCC in Asia to form successful joint ventures in Thailand and Indonesia with the birth of Thai AirAsia and PT AWAIR respectively. To date, the AirAsia Group has carried over 15 million passengers and offers over 100 domestic and international flights to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Macau, China (Xiamen), Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. For more information, log on to www.airasia.com.
For AIRASIA related media enquiries,
please call +603 8660 4333 or :
Jeamie Lee, Andrea Liong
Senior Executive – Publicity & Promotions Executive – Publicity & Promotions
+603 8660 4000 + 603 8660 4028
[email protected] [email protected]
Lim Su Ching Marketing Director
+603 8660 4027
[email protected]
For more information on GALILEO, please contact:
George Harb
Cendant Travel Distribution Services
+(852) 2821 2288 End.