Airline group in five year agreement
The SAS Group has signed a five year full content agreement with global distribution service (GDS) provider Amadeus.
The deal grants Amadeus-connected agents access to the full inventory and range of fares of SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Widerøe, Blue1 and Estonian Air.
Amadeus said schedules, fares and last seat availability would be the same as through any of the Group's other sales channels.
The travel technology provider said the deal demonstrated Amadeus' "commitment to the travel agencies channel."
"This agreement is of very significant importance in order for SAS to offer very competitive products and services to our customers worldwide," added Robin Kamark, senior vp and chief marketing and sales officer for SAS.
"The agreement ensures that SAS will have competitive and cost effective distribution by using Amadeus as a partner in all sales channels both in Scandinavia and in our international markets."
Philippe Chérèque, Amadeus' executive vp commercial, said a large proportion of air travel booked through Amadeus' GDS was with airlines which had signed full content deals.
The SAS Group includes long haul carrier SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian regional airline Widerøe, Blue1 based in Finland and Estonian national carrier Estonian Air.
Amadeus was founded by SAS Scandinavian in 1987, along with Air France, Lufthansa and Iberia.
Iberia, which remains an Amadeus shareholder, this week announced a full content agreement with rival GDS provider Sabre Travel Technology (see ABTN News July 9 2009).
www.sasgroup.net www.amadeus.com