Swedish rail operator SJ renews Amadeus partnership
SJ, the largest rail operator in Sweden, and Amadeus have announced they have agreed an extension of their content agreement and a commercial partnership in order to distribute content through additional channels integrated into Amadeus’ Global Rail Sales Platform.
The agreement, which will see SJ content distributed for the first time through the offline and online travel agency channels using Agent Track and Web Services Track, will enable SJ to deliver against a more efficient domestic and international distribution strategy.
Additionally, SJ will continue to be distributed through Amadeus e-Travel Management, Amadeus’ solution to distribute rail content though the corporate and travel management companies channel, a self-booking tool widely used by corporations in Scandinavia.
By offering integration into standard travel agency processes, travel agents will be able to manage SJ bookings from end-to-end, maximising travel sellers’ productivity and increasing booking volumes in tandem.
The solution will be delivered in a phased approach with pilot planned to begin at the beginning of 2013 with a driver TMC.
Thomas Drexler, head of Amadeus Rail, said: “This is yet another important step towards offering both a global platform and a multi-provider solution for effective rail distribution.
“With this in mind we are delighted that SJ has decided to partner with Amadeus by integrating SJ’s full content into Agent Track and Web Services Track.
“Travel sellers will have access to all fares and all origins and destinations worldwide.
“Moreover, SJ’s international sales in 2011 alone represented a little less than two per cent of SJ’s total sales, illustrating that the commercial opportunity for both SJ and Amadeus is clearly huge.”