United Airlines has renewed its full-content agreement with Cendant-owned global distribution system Galileo International in a five-year deal announced today.
The agreement designates Galileo as United's preferred distribution channel and provides all of United's published fares and seat inventory through the Galileo system. This includes Web fares from both United's site and those available through third parties.
Galileo and United's current three-year agreement was set to expire in the fall, said Jill Brenner, a spokesperson for Galileo parent company Cendant Travel Distribution Services.
Galileo is in discussion with all other major airlines and plans to announce more full-content deals soon, Brenner said, although she could not provide further details on the timing of such deals. A United spokesperson said the airline also is in discussion with other GDSs and expects to reach agreements in the near future.
The move is the latest in the first wave of full-content agreements between carriers and GDSs. Sabre Holdings previously signed deals with Northwest and US Airways
(BTN, Feb. 6) and competitor Worldspan signed American and Continental airlines
(BTNonline, April 4).