Amadeus and Vueling sign an agreement for distribution in the Benelux
• Vueling incorporates BSP payment and e-ticketing in a move that will make it closer to the travel agents’ real practices • Vueling publishes the bulk of its Amsterdam and Brussels summer 09 programme
Amadeus Benelux, 08 October 2008 – Vueling has reinforced its presence in the Dutch and Belgian travel agents’ channel by signing an agreement with Amadeus in order to distribute its entire inventory via the well-renowned global distribution system (GDS) for the whole Benelux region. Vueling has also adopted IATA’s BSP as one of its standard payment systems.
By doing this, Vueling moves closer to the travel agents, by allowing them full access to the airlines’ inventory and tariffs. BSP adoption will also allow Vueling to make new booking and e-ticketing functionalities available—such as reimbursements or payments in cash.
Vueling in Amadeus will simplify travel agents’ working streams: starting today, they will be able to book and issue Vueling tickets exactly the same way as the other airlines, also settling payments via BSP. The airline thus adapts to the travel agents’ real working practices.
Travel agents will also have access to the recently-launched Flex tariff, a product specifically designed for those passengers seeking flexibility on their bookings. This sort of tickets allows some degree of changes (dates, timetables) and includes a certain amount of services for free, for instance, first checked-in bag and seat selection, which are usually charged separately in other sales channels, such as the Internet.
Besides having access to all Vueling regular and Flex fares, Amadeus will allow travel agents to access Vueling’s Negofares, fares that are settled after specific negotiations between the airline and the customer.
Machiel Troost, Vueling’s Country Manager for the Benelux, explains that this agreement with Amadeus confirms Vueling’s strategic shift: “We are pursuing multi-channel distribution by prioritizing travel agents’ sales. We have adapted to their working practices, instead of expecting them to do the other way around, and that’s the reason why we’ve started issuing electronic tickets, we’ve integrated on BSP, and we’ve much improved our presence in Amadeus.”
“We are delighted about the distribution agreement between Amadeus and Vueling”, stated Olaf Leenders, Director – Marketing & Product Management. “This confirms our relationship already established in some other European markets with Vueling. The integration of Vueling within the Amadeus environment is another step forward toward the presence of the low cost carriers in our system and emphasis our commitment to the Benelux travel agencies to offer them a wide range of content through Amadeus. This confirms the confidence that airline partners have in Amadeus as IT technology partner. “
For more details about Vueling’s Amsterdam and Brussels summer 2009 programme, please visit their website on www.vueling.com
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Notes to the editors
Vueling Airlines took to the skies in July 2004 with the goal of offering excellent ground and onboard service at very competitive prices. An airline where such apparently irreconcilable objectives would become perfectly compatible.
With this goal in mind Vueling appeared in the European airline market as the first “new-generation airline”: an airline with kind staff which placed no barriers between themselves and the customer, operating new aircraft into major airports—as simple as that.
Vueling currently operates a fleet of 19 brand-new Airbus A320, and 47 routes out of 25 airports. On September 2008, Vueling carried its 15-millionth passenger. More information at www.vueling.com
Amadeus is the chosen technology partner for providers, sellers, and buyers of travel. The company provides distribution, IT and point-of-sale solutions to help its customers adapt, grow and succeed in the fast changing travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (airlines, hotels, car rental companies, railway companies, ferry lines, cruise lines, insurance companies and tour operators), travel sellers (travel agencies) and travel buyers (corporations and travellers). Solutions are grouped in four solution categories – Distribution & Content, Sales & e-Commerce, Business Management and Services & Consulting.
Amadeus has central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters & marketing), Nice (development) and Erding (Operations – data processing centre) and regional offices in Miami, Buenos Aires and Bangkok. At market level, Amadeus maintains customer operations in 76 countries covering more than 217 markets. Amadeus employs over 8,500 employees worldwide, representing 95 nationalities.
More information about Amadeus is available at: http://www.benelux.amadeus.com
Contact details for Benelux
Amadeus Benelux
Luc Pannecoeck
T: +32 2 257 99 11 / +31 23 554 1430
F: +32 2 460 03 84 / +31 23 562 4272
E-mail : infobe@benelux.amadeus.com / infonl@benelux.amadeus.com
Vueling
Machiel Troost
Country Manager Benelux
T: +34 660 025 256
machiel.troost@vueling.com
Alfons Claver/Patricia Burgos/Barbara Fisa
Public Relations department
T: +34 93 378 78 83
press@vueling.com
