EasyJet signs deal for corporate travel market
EasyJet will target the €130 billion European corporate travel market with breakthrough distribution deals with Amadeus and Galileo, part of Travelport GDS. This development will enable corporate travel agencies to view and book EasyJet flights...
EasyJet will target the €130 billion European corporate travel market with breakthrough distribution deals with Amadeus and Galileo, part of Travelport GDS.
This development will enable corporate travel agencies to view and book EasyJet flights within their preferred GDS environment, alongside other carriers to make easy comparisons and bookings.
This is the first time a major European low-fare airline has made its inventory available to the GDS providers. EasyJet aims to grow its proportion of business passengers, currently around 20 per cent, through the managed business travel segment, which is largely booked by travel agencies through the GDSs.
EasyJet will apply a point-of-sale fee (the same principle applies to all non-internet sales, such as telephone and airport sales) to the cost of the airfare.
"By adding a point-of-sale fee, we can ensure our website remains our primary distribution channel and fares will always be cheapest when booking direct online," Andy Harrison, EasyJet's chief executive officer, said.
"However, even with the point-of-sale fee, EasyJet seats sold through the GDS will still be dramatically lower than those offered on any of the traditional airlines."
Amadeus is carrying out detailed pilots in Germany, France, Spain and UK, which will end in November. As soon as those pilots are concluded, Amadeus will make EasyJet flights available to all eligible agencies worldwide. EasyJet flights will also be available through Galileo in the UK by the end of the year and the rest of Europe in the New Year.
According to PhoCusWright Corporate Travel Distribution Report August 2006, the value of European corporate travel market was estimated at €127 billion in 2005, representing a third of the total travel market and is expected to grow at a rate of 11 per cent over the next three years.
This development will enable corporate travel agencies to view and book EasyJet flights within their preferred GDS environment, alongside other carriers to make easy comparisons and bookings.
This is the first time a major European low-fare airline has made its inventory available to the GDS providers. EasyJet aims to grow its proportion of business passengers, currently around 20 per cent, through the managed business travel segment, which is largely booked by travel agencies through the GDSs.
EasyJet will apply a point-of-sale fee (the same principle applies to all non-internet sales, such as telephone and airport sales) to the cost of the airfare.
"By adding a point-of-sale fee, we can ensure our website remains our primary distribution channel and fares will always be cheapest when booking direct online," Andy Harrison, EasyJet's chief executive officer, said.
"However, even with the point-of-sale fee, EasyJet seats sold through the GDS will still be dramatically lower than those offered on any of the traditional airlines."
Amadeus is carrying out detailed pilots in Germany, France, Spain and UK, which will end in November. As soon as those pilots are concluded, Amadeus will make EasyJet flights available to all eligible agencies worldwide. EasyJet flights will also be available through Galileo in the UK by the end of the year and the rest of Europe in the New Year.
According to PhoCusWright Corporate Travel Distribution Report August 2006, the value of European corporate travel market was estimated at €127 billion in 2005, representing a third of the total travel market and is expected to grow at a rate of 11 per cent over the next three years.