Travelport, a number one provider of critical transaction processing solutions and information to companies operating within the global travel industry, and American Airlines, a unconditionally owned subsidiary of AMR Corporation, today announce a brand new long-term, global distribution agreement. As well as enabling continued access to buy and book the total content of flights marketed by American Airlines, the recent agreement positions Travelport to become the primary global distribution system to supply access to American’s other services and products.
Following a period of technical integration, Travelport and American plan to apply their industry-leading technology, including both Travelport’s Universal API technology and American’s XML-based direct connect interface, to deliver additional capabilities to all Travelport subscribers, including the power to sell American’s newly introduced Main Cabin Extra seating product.
Main Cabin Extra makes travel more well-off by providing four to 6 inches of extra legroom and Group 1 boarding. And because Main Cabin Extra seating is on the brink of front of the plane, customers can get off and on the plane much faster. By making Main Cabin Extra available through global distribution systems for the 1st time, American is delivering on its commitment to make the travel experience more connected and comfy from begin to finish.
“Travelport deserves praise for working with American to create an answer which can display all of our product options to travel agents in a clear, customer-friendly way that still clearly differentiates American’s products from other airlines,” said Derek DeCross, vp of world sales for American Airlines.
Dan Westbrook, vice chairman and general manager of world Distribution Sales and repair, Travelport, said, “American is an industry leader, and the suitable partner with which to construct upon Travelport’s airline partnership strategy to merchandising, optional ancillary sales and product differentiation. All of our subscribers will continue to access American’s full content, while American can merchandise its full line of goods through Travelport, providing consumers and travelers a clear marketplace and the power to buy and book all services at their channel of choice.”
American and Travelport also resolved all litigation between themselves. The terms of the settlement agreement require review and approval by the court presiding over AMR Corporation’s restructuring.