Travelport enabled U.K. travel agencies to "book prepaid seating on BA flights for the first time through the global distribution system channel, using their usual desktop and workflow processes,"

Travelport announced. "Previously, this optional extra was only bookable via ba.com." British Airways began charging for seat selection in 2009. Travelport agents can download the company's free Options Integrator to link "directly to BA's pre-paid seating content." Travelport and BA said they "intend to implement the new functionality to other key regions later in the year following the initial home market launch this month."