AirTran Airways today said it signed a new multi-year deal with Cendant in which it agreed to provide fares and inventory through Cendant's Apollo and Galileo global distribution systems. The airline also said it no longer participates in online travel agency Expedia.
The agreement with Cendant follows an earlier deal reached between AirTran and GDS operator Sabre
(BTN, Oct. 17). AirTran CEO Joe Leonard yesterday told analysts and reporters that due to general capacity changes in the domestic market, as well as AirTran's own growth, "it is a good time to be renegotiating these GDS agreements."
AirTran previously confirmed plans to exit at least one GDS, and in today's announcement that it immediately discontinued listing fares and inventory through Expedia, indicated that Worldspan is one channel it no longer plans to use. Worldspan currently serves as Expedia's primary GDS processor in the domestic market.
"We have mutually agreed with Expedia that as a result of the termination of our Worldspan agreement, and the limited ability to jointly serve our customers going forward, it is best to discontinue the sale of AirTran Airways flights at Expedia.com at this time," said Kevin Healy, AirTran vice president of planning.
Leonard also said that AirTran is exploring links with G2 SwitchWorks and other new-entrant distribution systems to "improve corporate booking capabilities."