Lufthansa working with HRG, TUI and Thomas Cook on direct distribution
Lufthansa Group says it remains committed to its new distribution strategy six months after introducing a €16 fee for bookings through the global distribution systems (GDSs).
Unveiling a list of new B2B partners at this week’s ITB exhibition in Berlin, it said it has ‘achieved more substantial progress with our B2B direct connections in the last six months that in the past five years’.
Among the developments, the group said it is working with Hogg Robinson Group and TUI on an alternative distribution channel.
"The Lufthansa Group is also in talks about possible solutions with many major companies, travel agents and tour operators. With Thomas Cook, for example, there is a constructive exchange taking place regarding the possibility of a direct connection," it added.
"We have thus created the essential building blocks for the basis of our distribution strategy through our cooperation with technology providers, through the direct connections to important B2B partners and with the new data standard NDC," said Jens Bischof, executive vice president sales and chief commercial officer Hub Frankfurt.
"The Lufthansa Group is implementing a number of further Direct Connect projects with key partners, we are working on further IT solutions and developing additional options designed to facilitate a direct connection to the Lufthansa Group. We will continue along this path together."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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