United Airlines and Travelport GDS on Wednesday
said they extended their "full content" global distribution agreement
for two more years, now expiring "well into 2013."
Travelport said the extension would provide its
subscribers with "all United published fares and seat inventory, including
Web fares available on its own site, reservation offices and through third
parties."
The agreement also would enable agencies to upsell
clients into United's Economy Plus cabin later this year, a capability that
Travelport said it would extend into its Travelport Universal Desktop.
United's merger partner-to-be Continental Airlines
last month also extended its GDS agreement with Travelport, shifting its
expiration date from next year to the end of 2013, though its other GDS
agreements remain up for renewal next year.
When Delta Air Lines renewed its major GDS
agreements, it signed seven-year deals that expire in 2013, while its
competitors largely opted for five-year deals set to expire in 2011. United
Airlines, however, also extended its Sabre GDS agreement by two years to 2013,
while American Airlines and US Airways still face expiration for all of their
GDS agreements next year.