Galileo International, a leading global distribution services (GDS) company and subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE:CD), today announced that United Airlines has joined the Company’s Preferred Fares Select program, providing Galileo-connected travel agencies and their customers with complete access to all published fares. This competitive content includes all fares the airline sells through any other GDS, third-party Web sites or their own Web site and reservation offices. Northwest Airlines, Continental and US Airways already participate in the program, which locks in rates for three years on all US-originated bookings. Galileo expects to add additional carriers to the program in the short term.
“We are excited to participate in Galileo`s Preferred Fares Select product,” said Greg Taylor, United Airlines` Senior Vice President - Planning. “It will provide our mutual customers with a full range of United`s fares in a cost-effective manner for all parties, while allowing United to significantly reduce our distribution costs at the same time.”
“Preferred Fares Select provides significant and immediate cost savings for all parties,” said Mitch Gross, executive vice president and managing director of Galileo Americas Client Services. “United gains a three-year rate lock and lower distribution fees while Galileo-connected agents secure greater access to all published fares, including Web fares, through the channel of their choice. Preferred Fares Select stabilizes the distribution model and dramatically reduces cost for carriers - just when they need it most.”
Galileo introduced its Preferred Fares Select Program in July to combine the strengths of its previous Preferred Fares and Momentum programs. The participating Preferred Fares Select airlines represent nearly 50 percent of Galileo`s U.S. bookings. The expanded content will be automatically available to all Galileo U.S. point of sale travel agencies and other subscribers, such as corporations utilizing Galileo or its affiliated Travelport corporate booking tool.
About Galileo International
Galileo International (www.galileo.com is a global technology leader. Its core business is providing electronic global distribution services for the travel industry through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative, Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. A subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of Cendant`s Travel Distribution Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and has offices worldwide.
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services Division
Cendant’s Travel Distribution Services Division is one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel distribution businesses. The division, employing some 5,000 people in more than 115 countries, includes: Galileo, a leading global distribution system (GDS) serving more than 47,000 travel agencies and over 54,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (Trust, THOR, WizCom and Neat); leading travel agencies, including Cheap Tickets and Lodging.com; an airline market intelligence company; and Travelport, a provider of global corporate travel management solutions.
About United
United and United Express operate more than 3,300 flights a day on a route network that spans the globe. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company`s web site at www.united.com.
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