Amadeus has signed a new distribution agreement with Qantas, Australia’s national carrier, that includes a private channel.

The private channel will be known as the Qantas Channel and will come into effect on in August.

The agreement ensures that Amadeus travel sellers that sign up to the Qantas Channel can continue to access the airline’s wide range of fares and products available for agents – including future NDC content – while enjoying the efficiencies and servicing capabilities of the Amadeus system when booking, changing or cancelling trips.

Amadeus travel sellers that sign up to the Qantas Channel will also be able to access the airline’s fares without a channel fee.

Qantas and Amadeus are working in close partnership in the context of NDC.

In June last year the airline joined Amadeus’ NDC-X program with the aim of connecting the Qantas Distribution Platform to Amadeus, in order to make NDC content available in the Amadeus Travel Platform.

Amadeus is committed to working with airlines like Qantas to deliver the options and flexibility that airlines are looking for, while at the same time providing business continuity and the widest possible range of content – including the integration of NDC content into our Travel Platform – for our global network of travel sellers.

Commenting on the airline’s new distribution model, Qantas chief customer officer Vanessa Hudson said the airline was pleased to be working with Amadeus to make the Qantas Channel available to their agents globally.

“The digital environment has changed the way we need to work with our trade partners, and our new technology paired with this new Qantas Channel agreement will support us on the journey to delivering our vision for our mutual customers. We’re excited to continue to innovate with our trade partners and share in the benefits of this new technology.”

This announcement marks another milestone in Qantas and Amadeus’ partnership.

In 2018, Qantas renewed its IT and distribution agreement, and completed a major digital redesign of its online booking process in collaboration with Amadeus, in order to provide customers with a more personalised and intuitive digital experience.

“Partnerships are the foundation of progress.

“As Qantas’ IT and distribution provider, we are proud to support the airline’s strategy to deliver increasing personalised experiences across all touchpoints.

“Amadeus’ open, collaborative approach allied with the scale, efficiency and performance offered by our travel platform means that we remain best placed to support our airlines and travel sellers — and their travellers — as they navigate the changing travel landscape,” says Cyril Tetaz, executive vice president, airlines, Asia Pacific, Amadeus.