PARSIPPANY, NJ, July 13, 2006 – In response to structural changes underway in the marketplace, Galileo International, a leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Travelport Inc., a division of Cendant Corp. (NYSE: CD), today announced the launch of its Galileo Content Continuity Program, an optional program that protects customers from airline service fees and at the same time, addresses airlines’ desire for reduced distribution costs.
Effective September 1, 2006, Content Continuity assures participating customers have the complete set of airfares and inventory available through all other channels while protecting against recently announced airline service fees. All Galileo-connected agencies located in the United States are eligible to participate in the program.
Customers participating in the Program will receive the following benefits:
- Protection from any service fees that may be imposed by Program participating airlines on GDS bookings;
- Assurance of full public content for airlines participating in the Program. “Full content” means access to all publicly available fares, including Web fares;
- Access to negotiated non-public fares on Program participating airlines in the manner equal to or better than any other GDS system; and
- Ongoing access to comprehensive air, car, hotel, cruise and tour content from a single source on the agent desktop.
For those electing to participate in Content Continuity, benefits also include revenue-generating opportunities and other agency value-add services to help agencies increase revenue and profit. In exchange for the benefits and protections provided by the Program, travel agencies participating in Content Continuity agree to certain financial terms.
“Content Continuity delivers the best of both worlds as it addresses the significant and immediate challenges faced by our supplier partners, providing airlines with market competitive distribution savings and delivering our travel agency partners efficient access to the full content they require while protecting them against airline service fees,” said Kurt Ekert, senior vice president, Supplier Services, Travelport.
“Galileo is committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of our customers to ensure their business continues to innovate and flourish,” said Dave Falter, president, Galileo Americas. “Our goal at Galileo remains to unite travel suppliers, travel agencies, corporations, and consumers in the most efficient, cost-effective, and easy-to-use travel marketplace. With Content Continuity, we protect our customers from airline service fees and combat travel content fragmentation, both critical requirements for our customers.”
Network carriers participating in Content Continuity include American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.
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Note to Customers: Please utilize your My Galileo portal to access additional details and information about the Content Continuity Program.
Note to Editors: On July 12, 2006, American Airlines detailed on its web site a plan to charge travel agencies $3.50 per segment when they book AA tickets through non-preferred distribution channels, effective Sept. 1st. Galileo’s Content Continuity Program makes it a preferred distribution channel and allows Galileo customers to avoid the $3.50 fee for those who choose to opt-in to the Program. See aa.com/agency for more details on its airline service fee.
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 and part of Travelport, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and has offices worldwide. Visit www.galileo.com.
About Travelport
Travelport, one of the largest and most geographically diverse travel companies, is dedicated to creating the exceptional travel experiences the world demands. Across more than 140 countries and through a network of 8,000 local professionals and customers, Travelport delivers greater choice, tremendous travel content and cost savings to travellers, travel professionals and travel suppliers every day. Travelport offers a wide range of business and consumer services, from distribution technology and travel packaging to retail sales and solutions. Travelport operates over 20 leading brands, including Orbitz, an online travel agency; Galileo, a global distribution system (GDS); and GTA, a wholesaler of global travel content.