KDS
and JetBlue, a
low-fare, low-cost passenger airline, today announced a partnership to
enable business travelers using KDS Corporate to plan and book on JetBlue.

Caption: François Vergnangeal, Vice President Marketing and
Strategic Alliances - KDS
Through this alliance, KDS will integrate JetBlue reservations into its
solution, thus making the carrier available in KDS Corporate, KDS`s online
business travel management solution.

“This innovative partnership will allow us to leverage the low cost of
distributing via a web site, while at the same time getting our fares in
front of a qualified group of buyers,” said Noreen Courtney-Wilds, Manager
National Corporate Sales at JetBlue. “Now that JetBlue`s flights are
displayed at the same level as traditional airlines on KDS Corporate,
business travelers will get more options to travel at the best price, and
travel managers will find it simpler to enforce travel policies and reduce
travel costs via better tracking and reporting.”

To integrate JetBlue reservations, KDS is using KDS Web Link, a new module
aimed at directly connecting air, hotel, car and rail supplier`s web only
information into KDS solutions. KDS Web Link provides the traveler with an
global view of both web fare and traditional GDS fare options on their
screen. For example, for a New York to San Francisco/Oakland flight query,
KDS users will see traditional airline flight options and JetBlue flight
options on the same results screen. 

KDS Web Link, an internally developed module, provides KDS`s customers with
a seamless integration of web only and traditional GDS options. KDS has
boosted its reservation system architecture to deliver the most appropriate
fares and rates regardless of the source of information (i.e. Web sites,
GDSs, etc.).

“We are delighted to offer seamless JetBlue content to the business travel
community,” said Jean-François Vergnangeal, Vice President Marketing and
Strategic Alliances at KDS. “JetBlue offers a terrific product at an
excellent value, and this integration will allow business travelers to
review relevant JetBlue options when making air travel decisions.”

Last week, KDS announced the release of KDS Corporate Version 5.5, bringing
to the market major innovations, such as KDS Web Link and also the first
online business travel management solution enabling train booking throughout
Europe.

“KDS now offers a real breakthrough for choosing the most appropriate
transportation option, between traditional GDS-participating air carriers,
web fares, non-GDS participating low-cost carriers and even trains in
Europe”, added Vergnangeal. “We are going to continue to develop our
partnerships with travel suppliers to assist corporations in obtaining the
best possible availability and pricing information.”

Related stories on ITN:

(04/02/2003) New KDS Corporate Empowers Corporations with Freedom

(12/12/2002) KDS Forms Think Tank Advisory Board

(05/12/2002) ByRail & KDS Offer Online Booking for Corporations

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