Orbitz For Biz Names Prez

Former US Airways vice president of sales and marketing Steve Tracas last week became president of Orbitz For Business. While Tracas has run virtually all aspects of airline sales and distribution, including a 19-year career at AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and Sabre, he told BTN that his lack of prior employment with a corporate travel agency "won't be a problem at all. With every job, you have an opportunity to grow and learn new things."

Tracas reports to Orbitz president and CEO Jeff Katz, also an AMR alum. A third Orbitz executive who cut his teeth under legendary AMR chairman Robert Crandall is Rick Weber, who will assume the newly created position of vice president of international planning and development, reporting to Katz, after two years as vice president of business travel service.

Asked at what point airlines will help sell Orbitz For Business, Tracas said, "That's probably an individual decision by individual airlines, but the fact is that distribution through Orbitz, particularly through Supplier Link, is and can be as cost-effective as their own direct sites. When those economics are realized, I think it's in the best interests of those airlines, independently, to promote Orbitz as a viable option for travel booking."

Tracas said he did not know when Orbitz For Business bookings would begin processing through Supplier Link, Orbitz's direct booking program that bypasses its global distribution system. "There isn't a timeline at this point," he said. "We're looking at our agreements, the technology requirements and the impact on customer service involved with going direct with each individual airline."

Alaska, America West, American, Continental, Northwest and US Airways now participate in Supplier Link, and Katz last week said he expects Delta and United to join this year.