Distribution Surprise: Travelport Inks BA Content Ahead Of Deadline

Travelport made a surprise announcement today that it has signed a new full-content deal with British Airways until 2013. The agreement, which covers travel agents connected to both the Galileo and Worldspan global distribution systems, takes immediate effect. Opt-in levels established by Travelport for U.K. agents in March 2007 remain unchanged. In general, these fees are £0.50 to £1 and are passed on by many travel management companies to their corporate clients.

A new deal had not been expected until its predecessor expired in March 2010, which is around the same time that BA's current deals with the two other major GDSs, Amadeus and Sabre, also finish. There had been concern among U.K. corporate clients that the opt-in fees would rise following some belligerent noises in the marketplace from BA about its distribution costs.

In a statement, BA head of selling and distribution John Mornement said, "We have worked hard with Travelport to come to an agreement that will reduce both our distribution costs and ensure that agents continue to have access to our full published content, including our lowest fares, through Galileo and Worldspan."

Also in the statement, Matthew Hall, vice president of supplier business development for Travelport's GDS business in EMEA, said, "This deal with BA is further testament to our ability to reach sustainable deals that clearly demonstrate the long-term viability and importance of the agency channel."