American Signs Temporary Content Pact With Amadeus

Amadeus and American Airlines today announced a short-term mutual distribution agreement as the global distribution system and carrier work toward a long-term pact. Through the deal—which mirrors stopgap pacts with Continental, Delta and Northwest—Amadeus subscribers gain immunity from American's imposition of $3.50 per-segment surcharges and access to "full content" through November.

Amadeus said the agreement is retroactive to Sept. 1, the day new distribution economics entered the marketplace.

Amadeus is the only major GDS that has yet to structure new long-term content contracts with all the major U.S. hub-and-spoke airlines, but this summer signed a "long-term" content agreement with US Airways, representing its first distribution pact with a major U.S. carrier since GDS deregulation. Amadeus also has an ongoing agreement with United Airlines for access to full content through December.