Qantas Airways and Amadeus, a leading global distribution system and travel industry technology provider, today signed a 10-year agreement in which Amadeus will operate and further develop reservations, inventory and departure control systems for the airline.

Qantas Chief Executive-Designate, Geoff Dixon, said that as part of the transaction the airline would transfer intellectual property rights of the Qantas Universal Business Environment (QUBE) to Amadeus.

Mr Dixon said the project would consist of four phases: migration from QUBE to Amadeus reservations, to become an Amadeus System User; the collaborative design of the new generation inventory and departure control systems by Qantas, British Airways and Amadeus; migration to the new Amadeus inventory systems and finally migration to the new Amadeus departure control systems.

“It is expected these phases will take four years to complete,” he added.

Mr Dixon said that under the contract Amadeus would establish a Centre of Excellence in Sydney to support existing applications and develop the new generation reservation, inventory and departure control systems.

More than 40 Qantas employees and additional contractors will relocate to the Elizabeth Street Centre, in Sydney, to begin development work on the Amadeus systems.

Hans Jorgensen, Vice President, Airline Business Group for Amadeus, said: “Amadeus has completed exhaustive contract negotiations with Qantas to win the contract. We are pleased to have Qantas as one of our launch customers for our new airline IT services function. Amadeus looks forward to working with Qantas to ensure the airline`s reservations and airport systems remain leading edge and continue to offer excellence of service to its customers.”

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