AirTran Airways, a
subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. , today announced the airline has
partnered with G2 SwitchWorks to distribute the airline’s ticket inventory
to key travel agency and corporate clients. AirTran Airways is the first
low cost carrier to support the G2 SwitchWorks TRUEconnect network. The
deal allows AirTran Airways to reduce its cost of distribution while
providing travel sellers with broad access to content along with cost
savings and automation. “AirTran Airways prides itself on our use of innovative technology to
increase efficiencies while keeping costs low. This new partnership allows
us to increase our distribution channels while improving our customer
service through better functionality,” said Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways
Vice President of Planning. “G2’s customers will have access to AirTran’s
full range of fares and services that consumers enjoy today at
http://www.airtran.com/, including content not generally available in the
GDS.”

“AirTran Airways has been a leader in online and direct sales through
http://www.airtran.com/; we believe our new partnership with G2
SwitchWorks is consistent with both our distribution and cost goals, and
is complimentary to the services we provide through
http://www.airtran.com/.”

As part of the arrangement, AirTran Airways’ has agreed to pre-pay certain
distribution fees in order to secure additional discounts on transaction
costs and the opportunity to acquire a minority stake in G2. This
agreement offers more than 80 percent savings in distribution costs versus
the traditional GDS fees, thus ensuring AirTran Airways’ low cost
leadership in the airline industry.

“Low cost airlines are especially burdened by GDS distribution fees, which
can often represent nearly one-fourth the cost of an average ticket,” said
Ellen Lee, G2 SwitchWorks Co-Founder and Vice President. “We’re pleased
that AirTran Airways opted to make G2 SwitchWorks a preferred provider for
alternative GDS distribution services in an effort to keep costs for the
airline, and ultimately the traveler, at a minimum.”
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