Lufthansa Names Direct Connect Partners

The Lufthansa Group announced direct connect partners, including Travelfusion, a United Kingdom-based content aggregator and tech provider that works with such travel management companies as Egencia and Hillgate and with corporate booking tools powered by Amadeus, Sabre, Concur and KDS. Other direct connect partnerships include DCS Travel Technologies, InteRes, Peakwork Software, SoftConEx and Ypsilon.net. The airline group will waive its €16 global distribution system surcharge for bookings transacted via direct connect partners. German-based wholesaler Aerticket and tour operator Bucher Reisen already have enabled direct connect bookings, noted Lufthansa, which did not name any major TMCs or booking tools that are capable. Lufthansa also announced its participation in the Book on Google feature via the Google Flights metasearch system for United States-based users.