Australia’s largest retail travel outlet, Flight Centre Travel Group, has chosen Amadeus as its technology partner for its distribution business in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia.
In a statement announcing the inking of the contract, Amadeus said it would be working with Flight Centre to transform its IT and operations through innovative solutions and support expansion in these regions.
The deal allows Flight Centre’s travel agents to adopt Amadeus solutions, including Amadeus Selling Platform Connect and integrated mobile and business intelligence capabilities, to deliver personalised service to their clients in these markets:United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, South Africa, Namibia, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and India.
In Australia and New Zealand, Amadeus will provide technology solutions for some of the retail group’s online travel agency businesses.
The technology company will also render help to grow Flight Centre’s business in new markets and segments.
Flight Centre will provide input into Amadeus’ design and build of an NDC-enabled solution for business and retail travel agencies, which the latter described as “a major milestone” for its recently announced NDC-X programme”.
The cooperation in the development of the NDC-enabled solution will enable travel sellers worldwide to shop, order and pay for flights and related services, in addition to changing and cancelling bookings, using the NDC standard in Amadeus Selling Platform Connect.
Customers, in turn, will have a wide choice of fares and the option to book NDC-powered ancillary services in a familiar working environment.
Both travel agents and their customers benefit from the partnership. (Image credit: junce/oStock-Getty Images)
“Our approach has always been to evolve with industry developments and the needs of our customers in order to aggregate and offer the widest, most relevant content possible. We are committed to ensuring Flight Centre stays ahead of the curve in terms of GDS technology and systems, particularly as new initiatives like NDC emerge,” said Graham Turner, managing director of Flight Centre Travel Group, on the teaming up with Amadeus.
Rajiv Rajian, EVP of business travel at Amadeus, added that with the progress of its NDC-X programme the company is evolving its e travel platform to bring together all relevant content from any source (GDS, NDC, airline proprietary APIs, and aggregators) to be distributed via any channel or device.
“The first evolution of our platform is underway and will give travel sellers, like Flight Centre, access to more content, and will give airlines the flexibility to distribute their products and offers however they choose.”
Amadeus aims to achieve the NDC level 3 certification as an aggregator this year.
• Featured image credit: anyaberkut/iStock-Getty Images
