Amadeus to launch Virtual MCO solution for Travel Agents

Virtual MCO to support travel agents through transition to full e-ticketing on June 1st 2008

Bangkok, Thailand (Asia Pacific), 30 May, 2008:  Amadeus, a leading global technology and distribution partner to the travel industry, today announced the launch of Amadeus Virtual Miscellaneous Charge Order (Amadeus Virtual MCO), a transitional solution supported by IATA (International Air Transport Association) replacing current paper Automated MCO.

With the IATA 100% e-ticketing deadline being the end of May 2008, some airlines may not be able to provide travel agents with e-tickets for all bookings. The Amadeus Virtual MCO has been developed to enable agents to issue a MCO in exchange for travel-related services, and a new functionality has been added to allow receipts to be sent directly through email to the customer. The Amadeus Virtual MCO, which is based on the current Amadeus Automated MCO product, can be used for infant tickets, unaccompanied minors and excess baggage as well as standard tickets. The Amadeus Virtual MCO will be rolled out in all interested markets at the beginning of June.

Damian Hickey, Vice President of Airline Business Group for Amadeus Asia Pacific, said, “We are very pleased that with minimal training, travel agents will be able to continue to provide all transactions without interruption, despite the implementation of IATA’s 100 percent e-ticketing deadline. The Amadeus Virtual MCO will be fully integrated into the whole Amadeus booking process (from PNR until reporting) enabling all the information to be seamlessly transferred to the agency back office system.”

“Amadeus sees the Virtual MCO as a crucial solution for travel agents as we fast approach the May 31^st deadline, especially as IATA has instructed each airline to communicate their procedure to agents for any document which is not e-ticket eligible.”

Louis Lee, General Manager Amadeus Hong Kong added, “Amadeus, as the leading technology partner for the travel industry, strives to consistently introduce solutions which will bring incremental business benefits for all trade partners.   The introduction of Amadeus VMCO will help both airlines and travel agencies to go through a seamless transition to the Electronic Ticketing era.  It is a fully integrated solution within the whole booking and reporting process.”  

IATA began the move towards 100 percent e-ticketing in June 2004 with the aim of making travel more convenient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly. According to IATA, a paper ticket costs US$10 to process compared with US$1 for an e-ticket.  IATA says using e-tickets will save the industry more than US$3 billion a year.

A preferred IATA partner, Amadeus provides airlines with solutions from its leading ticketing portfolio designed to help carriers comply with the Simplifying the Business e-ticketing initiative. Amadeus, as the world leader in e-ticket distribution and technology, has to date enabled e-ticketing for 268 airlines across 154 markets, far ahead of the nearest competitor.

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Notes to the editors:

Benefits of e-ticketing

The benefits of e-ticketing are considerable.  E-tickets are cheaper to issue, harder to counterfeit and better facilitate self service kiosks at airports.  In addition to increasing the security and speed of ticket data they provide a basis for distribution analysis with real-time information on tickets, fares, customers and the sales channels.  Their flexibility, combined with to-the-minute accountability, opens up new possibilities for revenue management and last minute sales.  IATA estimates that full e-ticketing will generate industry savings of US $3 billion per year.

About Amadeus

A world-leading technology and distribution solutions provider, Amadeus delivers unparalleled expertise to the travel and tourism industry, including leading-edge solutions that cover airlines’ unique business needs, independent of their size, business model or market reach.

Amadeus’ pioneering new-generation Customer Management Solution (CMS) portfolio, Amadeus Altéa CMS, serves network and regional carriers. The Altéa portfolio, based on a pioneering community platform concept, enables improved operational efficiency and increases revenue. The portfolio consists of the Altéa Reservation, Altéa Inventory and Altéa Departure Control solutions.

Low Cost Carriers have an alternative Customer Management Solution, Amadeus Pioneer CMS, based on adaptive technology that provides a robust option that easily adjusts to their evolving operational requirements.

Further complementing these integrated IT solutions is the Amadeus e-Travel Airline Suite that includes the Amadeus e-Retail Engine, which powers more than 250 websites of over 75 airlines.

Other standalone IT solutions include revenue integrity and automatic ticket reissue tools, in addition to full e-ticket interlining and ground-handling management technology services.

More information about Amadeus’ solutions for airlines is available at: www.amadeus.com/airlines.

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