LANGLEY, UK & MONTREAL, CANADA 08-15-2007 — Galileo, a leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Travelport, and Air Canada today announced a multi-year agreement for a revolutionary graphical agency desktop solution that will provide Galileo-connected Canadian travel agents with access to the full range and attributes of Air Canada’s innovative à-la-carte fare products and Flight Passes.
Air Canada will be the first airline to use the desktop solution to distribute its products and services. This innovative new application developed by Galileo, utilizes Air Canada’s direct-connect application programming interface (API) platform called "AC2U." and integrates Air Canada’s web only content with content from Galileo’s GDS. Galileo plans to make the new desktop application available to travel agents in Canada in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Galileo is the first and only GDS to offer a full merchandising solution capable of supporting the full range of Air Canada´s fare and Flight Pass products. The new desktop solution offers Galileo agencies full product descriptions, the ease of a graphical display and prompts the user when product options are available. All information is seamlessly integrated into the travel agent accounting and back-office systems.
"Galileo is embracing new ways to do business and we are especially pleased to partner with Air Canada, an innovative and forward-thinking carrier, as our launch customer for this new solution," said Dave Falter, president, Galileo Americas.
Added Jean Collier, vice president, Supplier Services, Galileo Americas, "As airlines around the world roll-out a variety of non-traditional optional services, it is critical to provide carriers and their customers with merchandising tools to sell these services. At the same time, it is important to protect an airline´s brand integrity and to merchandise products as they would via their own distribution channels."
Air Canada’s vice president, Sales and Product Distribution, Marc Rosenberg, commented: "Today’s announcement marks the successful outcome of many months of close collaboration with Galileo to develop a robust, user-friendly solution that meets Air Canada’s merchandising requirements. We are satisfied that Galileo subscribers in Canada will soon have a powerful, automated tool that will help them enhance productivity and customer service, by offering the full range of Air Canada product features."
The new desktop solution will enable Galileo subscribers to shop, price and book all Air Canada domestic, U.S. transborder and international itineraries and fares including Tango, Tango Plus, Latitude, Latitude Plus and Executive, as well as the capability to book using Air Canada’s complete range of Flight Pass products.
The new desktop was developed to meet the needs of Air Canada, the world’s first network carrier to offer its customers à-la-carte pricing with the ability to choose among product attributes they wish to pay for, such as advance seat assignment on its lowest Tango fare, onboard meals and lounge access, or opt out of to obtain a discount such as checked baggage, refund-ability and frequent flyer mile accumulation.
