Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces a long-term agreement with AXESS International Network, the leading Japanese GDS owned by Japan Airlines (JAL).  Under the new agreement, AXESS will be hosted by Travelport in its Atlanta data center as a partition of the Travelport global distribution system.  The new upgraded AXESS GDS system, which will provide enhanced functionality to connected travel agency users, will be implemented by 2013.

By adopting Travelport’s technology infrastructure, the AXESS GDS system will be enhanced with improved connectivity to airlines and a significant increase in the range of fares, shopping, hotel and car rental capabilities available for use by Japanese travel agencies and corporations. When fully implemented, the agreement will also allow for AXESS bookings to be retrieved and modified worldwide by any travel agent using a Travelport GDS terminal, enhancing customer service for Japanese travellers.

AXESS confirmed it had selected Travelport as its partner due to the two companies’ mutual alignment on strategic thinking and saw the agreement as a significant step forward in reinforcing AXESS’s position as the GDS of choice in the Japanese travel industry.

Ms Nakano, CEO of AXESS International Network, said:

“We are honoured to enter into this partnership with Travelport and feel very confident that it will enable us to expand our Japanese GDS business further.  This agreement is very much aligned to our overall strategic ambitions and our ongoing commitment to remain the most innovative GDS in Japan.  With the benefit of Travelport’s leading-edge technology, AXESS will continue to enhance its GDS business model to suit the local needs of the Japanese market. I look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Gordon Wilson, President and CEO of Travelport, added: 

“We are delighted to be announcing such an important agreement which will enable AXESS to provide an enhanced travel agency customer experience and offer its customers a more seamless service on a global basis. The relationship forged between Travelport and AXESS is designed around putting the Japanese customer first and delivering Japanese solutions for his or her needs while harnessing the best that a fully global system can bring to the table. We are truly thrilled to be given this opportunity to work in such close co-operation with the leading player in the large and resurgent Japanese travel industry.”