Date marks the implementation of Amadeus’ light ticketing functionalities to complement the airline’s current full ticketing offer to travel sellers
Madrid, Spain, 2014-9-18 — /Travel PR News/ — Germanwings and Amadeus today announce that all of the airline’s published fares and ancillary services will be available to Amadeus subscribers on 23rd September 2014.
The Lufthansa subsidiary previously sold a limited range of its fares via Amadeus’ travel agency partners, using full e-ticketing. On September 23rd, an industry-first implementation will turn Germanwings into the first airline in the world to offer both full and light ticketing options to travel sellers.
Light ticketing is Amadeus’ unique system enhancement that enables agents to book low-cost & hybrid carriers with the same booking process used for full-service carriers, even when established through an interface using XML technology.
Christian Hein, Senior Vice President E-Commerce, Sales and Distribution, Germanwings said: “Everything is progressing well for our groundbreaking implementation of Amadeus’ light ticketing functionality. Starting 23rd September, our travel agency partners will be able to better tailor the experience for travellers with access to the most demanded ancillary services. We are confident the ability to book our full range of flights, in exactly the same way as a full-service carrier, will improve efficiencies for travel agents.”
Holger Taubmann, Senior Vice President, Distribution at Amadeus said: “This implementation is another example of our commitment to offering the widest possible range of content to Amadeus subscribers while it also showcases Amadeus’ XML-based technical capabilities. As evermore low-cost and hybrid airlines seek access to the high-yield business travel market, it is imperative that a technology partner like Amadeus continues to make the shopping and booking process as efficient as possible.”
As of 23rd September 2014, travel agents will benefit from being able to offer travellers more relevant, tailored travel options, including access to Germanwings’ budget, standard and comfort fares; point-to-point and interline flights; and a wider range of optional extras. The fare options include:
• BASIC: the budget fare which includes the flight, hand luggage, air miles and cannot be combined with other airlines. This fare is a new addition to the Amadeus system and will be bookable using light ticketing only; from September 23rd all other fare options below can be booked with both light ticketing and full e-ticketing functionality.
• SMART: the standard fare, which includes the same benefits as the budget fare, as well as a range of the most important ancillary services, such as one item of checked luggage, an inflight snack and drink and a seat reservation.
• BEST: the comfort, highest value fare, which is aimed at business travellers in particular but also appeals to leisure travellers. It includes the flight and a wider range of ancillary services, such as two items of checked luggage, à la carte catering on board, preferred seating in the front rows with a free adjacent seat and priority ground services including lounge access.
• Germanwings’ flexible fare options, SMART Flex and BEST Flex, will also be available. They enable travellers to re-book or cancel flights free-of-charge, even at short notice.
Over 70 low-cost & hybrid airlines, including Germanwings, distribute their inventory via the Amadeus system. Amadeus’ travel agency network covers more than 200 markets worldwide.
Notes to the editors
About Amadeus:
Amadeus is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail and ferry operators, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and travel management companies).
The Amadeus group employs around 10,000 people worldwide, across central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters), Nice (development) and Erding (operations), as well as 71 local Amadeus Commercial Organisations globally.
The group operates a transaction-based business model. For the year ended December 31, 2013 the company reported revenues of €3,103.7 million and EBITDA of €1,188.7 million.
Amadeus is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under the symbol “AMS.MC” and is a component of the IBEX 35 index.
To find out more about Amadeus please visit www.amadeus.com, and www.amadeus.com/blog for more on the travel industry.
About Germanwings:
Germanwings as one of the most successful low-cost-carriers in Europe has positioned itself as the quality airline amongst the low-cost-carriers. At reasonable prices, the airline operates from its main airports of Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart, Berlin-Tegel, Hamburg, Hannover, Düsseldorf and Dortmund to more than 130 destinations in Europe, Israel and North Africa. The airline’s brand and product concept with the three fares BEST, SMART and BASIC enables its passengers travelling “à-la-carte”, offering a range from a seat-only to an all-inclusive high-quality booking.
To find out more about Germanwings please visit www.germanwings.com
Contact details:
Amadeus IT Group
Malek Nejjai
Tel.: +34 91 582 01 60
Email : mediarelations@amadeus.com
Germanwings Public Relations
Tel.: +49 22 03 – 10 27 – 310
Email: presse@germanwings.com
www.germanwings.com