British Airways (BA) has secured its second global distribution system (GDS) partnership within a week, this time with Worldspan. Having signed a similar, three-year deal with Sabre Travel Network just days ago, the carrier has established a contract with the competitor company ” also for three years ” to distribute its fares and inventory across its GDS.
BA fares are now distributed by three out of the four major GDS players, as it signed its first partnership with UK-based Galileo, in mid-March of this year. Talks with the fourth, Amadeus, are still ongoing.
Worldspan customers worldwide will have access to BA”s published fares ” including those distributed by other GDSs and travel distributors ” as well as those offered on the carrier”s website. Subscribers in the UK and Ireland (who make up the great majority of bookings for the airline), will be offered an opt-in programme from 10 April, which guarantees their access to BA fares via the Worldspan system.
”Worldspan knows our customers require access to airline content to be competitive, and this agreement provides BA content to them for the next three years,” said Worldspan vice president airline distribution and business development, Kevin Ficco.
”We are working with BA to accomplish our mutual goals, while ensuring that they and our customers conduct business using the most advanced technologies.”