BA inks cheaper deal with Travelport

Travelport, operator of both the Galileo and Worldspan platforms, has reached a surprise new long-term, global full content agreement with British Airways which will see all of British Airways’ published fares and inventory made available to connected travel agents worldwide until April 2013.

A new deal had not been expected until its predecessor expired in March 2010, which is around the same time that BA’s current deals with the two other major GDSs, Amadeus and Sabre, also finish.

Opt-in levels established by Travelport for U.K. agents in March 2007 remain unchanged. In general, these fees are £0.50 to £1 and are passed on by many travel management companies to their corporate clients.

John Mornement, Head of Selling and Distribution for British Airways, said: “We have worked hard with Travelport to come to an agreement that will both reduce our distribution costs and ensure that agents continue to have access to our full published content, including our lowest fares, through Galileo and Worldspan.”

Matthew Hall, Vice President, Supplier Business Development for Travelport’s GDS business in Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented: “We have a strong track record of reaching full content agreements with flag carriers across the globe and this deal with BA is further testament to our ability to reach sustainable deals that clearly demonstrate the long term viability and importance of the agency channel. I am delighted that we have struck a deal that is mutually beneficial for both parties and offers great value to travel agents.”

Travelport and British Airways will also work together in the coming months on providing Galileo and Worldspan-connected travel agents with the ability to book extras such as seating through the GDS.