Amadeus Still At Odds With Lufthansa Over GDS Fee

Amadeus has yet to come to terms with Lufthansa to shield its subscribers from the Preferred Fares Program surcharge, and stands to lose "significant" marketshare in Germany as a result, claimed a representative of the global distribution provider today said during a session at the spring conference of the German travel buyer association VDR in Cologne, Germany.

Lufthansa's Preferred Fares Program imposes a €4.90 per-way surcharge, in addition to value-added tax, on fares booked through the global distribution systems in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, though Amadeus competitors Sabre and Travelport have come to separate agreements that shield customers from the fees.

Amadeus country manager in Germany Holger Taubmann today during a "customer hearing" on Lufthansa's Preferred Fares Program said its marketshare in the country—where it is the dominant provider of global distributions services—could be reduced to 20 percent, though that "depends what deals are being made with our competition."

Taubmann noted that Sabre's agreement with Lufthansa and its subsidiary Swiss only shields its subscribers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland from the Preferred Fares surcharge through June 30.

Sabre in a statement today confirmed that, but said, "We are currently in negotiations to establish a new deal that gives agencies and corporations continued access to Lufthansa's full content. We are committed to securing the very best deal we can for our agency customers."