Travelport GDS‚ one of the world‘s leading global distribution system (GDS) providers‚ operating both the Galileo and Worldspan platforms‚ has today announced a new full content agreement with Finnish flag-carrier Finnair. The agreement will provide all Travelport GDS-connected travel agents worldwide with access to the airline‘s entire published inventory and fares.
“It is wonderful to have Finnair on board‚ as part of our broad portfolio of airline content. Finnair provides an important link for Indian travellers to Europe and beyond via Helsinki. This will add to the convenience of outbound travellers in order to be able to plan better and more efficient itineraries”‚ said J.B. Singh‚ President and CEO‚ InterGlobe Technology Quotient‚ National Distribution Company of Travelport GDS in India‚ operating both Galileo and Worldspan platforms.
“This full content agreement with Finnair will provide increased functionality to the airline as well as the very best service to our agency customers”‚ said Matthew Hall‚ vice president‚ supplier services for Travelport GDS. This is further to Travelport GDS‘s strengthened position in Scandinavia where we are gaining share.”
Tom Kallstrom‚ vice president for Finnair added: “We are happy that we were able to conclude the agreement with Travelport GDS‚ which significantly strengthens our multi-channel distribution strategy. Finnair is committed to developing its business network and as such‚ this new agreement will provide this all important link to the agents.”
Finnair is one of the world‘s oldest operating airlines‚ established in 1923. Its operations focus on transporting passengers between Europe and Asia‚ via Helsinki.
About Travelport
Travelport is one of the world‘s largest travel conglomerates offering broad based business services to companies operating in the global travel industry. The company is comprised of the global distribution system (GDS) business that includes the Worldspan and Galileo brands; GTA‚ a leading global‚ multi-channel provider of hotel and ground services; IT Services and Software‚ which hosts mission critical applications and provides business and data analysis solutions for major airlines. With 2008 revenues of $2.5 billion‚ Travelport operates in 160 countries and has over 5‚500 employees.
Travelport also owns approximately 48% of Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW)‚ a leading global online travel company. Travelport is a private company owned by The Blackstone Group‚ One Equity Partners‚ Technology Crossover Ventures and Travelport management.
More information about Travelport GDS is available at www.travelport.com
About Finnair
Finnair‚ one of the world‘s oldest operating airlines‚ was established on 1st November‚ 1923. Its operations focus on transporting passengers between Europe and Asia‚ via Helsinki. Finnair Group operations cover scheduled passenger traffic and leisure traffic‚ technical and ground handling operations‚ catering‚ travel agencies as well as travel information and reservation services. The number of personnel of Finnair Group is approximately 9 500.
In recent years‚ Finnair has emerged as a major player in traffic between Europe and Asia. Finnair‘s intercontinental destinations in Asia include Seoul in South Korea‚ Delhi and Mumbai in India‚ Beijing‚ Shanghai and Hong Kong in China‚ Tokyo‚ Osaka and Nagoya in Japan and Bangkok in Thailand. Finnair also flies to 13 destinations within Finland. The domestic route network is one of the densest in the world in relation to population.
In addition to regular scheduled traffic‚ Finnair operates leisure flights to more than 60 destinations. Leisure traffic flies mainly to holiday resorts in the Mediterranean‚ the Canary Islands‚ South-East Asia as well in the Caribbean and South America.
More information about Finnair is available at www.finnair.com.