15 October 2008

More low-cost airlines will be bookable through Amadeus

Amadeus is preparing to distribute more low-cost carrier seats and says it will offer Monarch next year alongside budget airlines from Germany, France and Scandinavia.

The technology provider set the pace with LCCs last year when it announced a groundbreaking distribution deal with Easyjet, albeit with the universally-reviled point-of-sale fee of between Ã&#pound;4 and Ã&#pound;5.

Amadeus UK and Ireland managing director Stephane Durand said: ââ¬ÅâœWe think Monarch will come in the first quarter of 2009, as will LCCs based in France, Germany and Scandinavia, but we donââ¬â¢t think all of them will come with a surcharge because they will want to maximise distribution opportunities.

ââ¬ÅâœItââ¬â¢s interesting to watch what happened with Iberia which initially charged a surcharge for low fares in its home market but them pulled back and offered full content as well.ââ¬~

Durand said he thought Easyjetââ¬â¢s recent reduction of its point-of-sale fee, down to Ã&#pound;3.30 per sector, was ââ¬Å✠a step in the right directionââ¬~.

The Guild of Travel Management Companies, however, is still unhappy with the fee, with many of its members opting to book the airline through non-GDS channels.

Durand said Amadeus was talking to all low cost carriers about distribution, ââ¬Åâœeven Ryanairââ¬~ but admitted ââ¬Åâœwe do not think they will be next on the listââ¬~.

By Dinah Hatch

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• LCCs operating in France
  
  

  Just to clarify, Mr Durand was referring to Low Cost Carriers operating in France, not necessarily based in France. For example, earlier this year it was reported that easyJet is now France's second largest carrier with plans to expand their services to operate more than 80 routes into and out of the country by 2011. Transavia also has a large route network operating out of Paris and other French cities. Both airlines now distribute via the Amadeus Ticketless Access solution.

  By Rob Golledge, Friday, October 17, 2008
• LCCs in France?
  
  

  Like who? There are LCCs in France?

  By Martino Matijevic, Thursday, October 16, 2008