American Airlines has launched their Japanese website, powered by Internet Self-Service engine e-Travel Planitgo. Putting the traveller firmly at the centre of their online sales strategy, Planitgo allows the airline to reduce costs and increase online yield. Mr.Theo Panagiotoulias, Managing Director Japan, American Airlines, said “Amadeus is an IT solutions provider with the track record and market knowledge necessary to understand where customer-centric online faring technology is heading and best tailor that to our expansion strategy in Asia Pacific.  Within two and a half months of signing the contract, Amadeus delivered a fully customized website in Japanese, fast tracking us to success in Japan.”

Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong have been classified by Nielsen/NetRatings* as “emerging online markets” having demonstrated double-digit growth in time spent by householders online in the last year.  Specifically, Japanese spent 12% more time on the web at home in 2004 compared to the previous year, showing key potential for online travel sales in that market.

Peter Smith, Vice President, Amadeus e-Travel Asia Pacific, said, ” Amadeus e-Travel’s commitment to the airlines’ success in Japan is reflected by the strong take-up of our industry-leading solution that can be translated into 21 languages. www.aal.co.jp, powered by Planitgo is American Airlines’ portal to a bright future in Asia Pacific and with American’s plans to add routes in Japan and eventually in China, Amadeus e-Travel is excited to be part of their expansion in the region.”

American Airlines joins five other airlines with Japanese websites powered by e-Travel Planitgo, including Air France, Cathay Pacific Airways, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways.  These airlines join more than sixty airlines worldwide currently benefiting from one of the most widely adopted Internet Self-Service engines worldwide.
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