Articles tagged “global distribution systems”

The first half of July saw little improvement in travel agency bookings compared with the first half of June, according to the world's largest processor of airline tickets. Sigh.

The existence of the deal, previously unreported, should reassure anyone about the travel tech company's near-term stability.

Travelport's response to the pandemic shows that purpose can defy skeptics. But uncertainty around the fate of its eNett sale may last for months.

Southwest Airlines is upping its corporate travel game by significantly expanding its presence in the global distribution system (GDS) network. This is set to enhance the relationship between the airline and its corporate buyers and agencies.

It is likely back to square one for Travelport, which has tried to sell its hottest commodity, payments provider eNett, for years. It's possible another buyer may emerge, but at a price far below the $1.7 billion deal that the parties struck in a now-vaporized bygone era.

Amadeus has seen a dramatic drop in the plane tickets booked and passengers processed through its systems. Its latest results show the broader impact on carriers worldwide and signal the wallop still awaiting.

Sabre is a bellwether for the global travel industry as a major processor of transactions for airlines and hotels. The picture isn't pretty. But the company looks capable of weathering a delayed resumption in travel.

Travelsky, China's travel technology giant, said it will weather the coronavirus-related plunge in air travel without needing to lay off workers. Remarkably, in January it added a tool to its popular flight app that alerts a traveler if another passenger is later tested and found to have coronavirus.

Amadeus, the world's largest provider of ticket distribution and operational software for airlines, is a bellwether for the sector. It had a weak February, but it expects a rebound later this year. The outlook for airlines, however, is less optimistic.

Travelport CEO Greg Webb tells us that the travel distribution giant's private equity investors support a major technology overhaul and that it will involve minimal heartache for agencies. It'll be notable if Travelport's backers defy the reputation of private equity investors for mercilessly extracting value.