Northwest Airlines and Worldspan today announced the signing of a five-year distribution agreement, giving users access to "all published fares that the airline sells through its Web site, nwa.com, any third-party Web site or other distribution system, as well as private fares, where applicable."
The parties did not disclose when the agreement was to begin.
Northwest joins American, Continental and United in signing new agreements with the global distribution system, and "in conjunction with the agreement, Worldspan has developed two new optional products to introduce into the marketplace," the GDS has stated with each of the signings.
Worldspan vice president of major accounts Cheryl Weldon earlier this week during the Association of Corporate Travel Executives show would not comment further on the "optional products," but of GDS/airline relationships said, "The business model is changing."
Northwest was among the first of the legacy carriers to renegotiate a GDS contract in the deregulated environment when it signed a five-year deal with Sabre in February
(BTN, Feb. 6).