Easyjet will be unveiling new technology next year which is designed to make it easier for TMCs and corporate clients to book the no-frills airline’s flights.
The airline, which yesterday (November 20) announced record profits for the last financial year, is currently working with the three main GDS providers – Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport – on technology innovations to make Easyjet’s inventory easier to access.
Easyjet chief executive Carolyn McCall said she expected this work to be completed in spring 2013 as the company continues its strategy of targeting the business travel sector.
“Easyjet’s share of the European business travel market has increased by around 0.5 per cent this year to 6 per cent in a quite tough, flat or declining business travel market overall,” said McCall in a presentation to City analysts.
“We are continuing to work with the major global distribution systems’ providers on all the IT developments that they are doing specifically for Easyjet which will make our inventory much easier to use for TMCs and it is also going to make it easier for corporate customers as well. That work will be completed in spring 2013.”
She added that the current roll-out of allocated seating across all Easyjet’s services, which will be completed by the end of November, would help to “support the business travel proposition” because it would attract passengers who would not previously have considered using the airline.
McCall said that the airline’s main strategy was on making more revenue from these corporate travel sales rather than growing volume to gain market share.
“This is not about volume but about incremental margins,” she added. “Our sales team is incentivised by the number of TMCS they sign up and how they are working with the GDSs – the most important thing is the incremental margin they have to drive. It’s not on the market share and not on the number of seats sold.”
Paul Simmons, UK director for Easyjet, added that they were looking to find the “sweet spot” where they could make a higher margin per seat from business travellers while also saving money for the corporate client.
Easyjet has already agreed deals with major TMCs such as American Express, FCm Travel Solutions and Portman Travel, as well as securing a contract to become a preferred supplier of travel to the UK’s politicians through a new deal with another TMC Hillgate Travel.