Travelocity Business today announced new agreements with Lufthansa German Airlines and low-fare U.S. carrier Spirit Airlines which enable it to offer corporate clients discounts on airfares from the two carriers. In Lufthansa's case, clients can receive "significant" savings on first, business and economy class fares. Spirit will offer discounts between 10 percent and 20 percent for business and coach class travel.
The Internet-based travel management company this spring signed deals with several airlines, including AeroMexico, Frontier, Japan Airlines and Qantas
(BTNonline, April 27). It also offers corporate rates for hotel stays through Best Western and Utell Properties and for car rental through Avis and Hertz.
Travelocity Business said preferred programs with suppliers include fewer restrictions and greater flexibility for corporate clients. "Smaller companies typically do not have the volume to negotiate their own discounts, and for large companies it is easiest to focus their negotiations where they offer the supplier the most volume," the company said.
Sabre Corporate Solutions president Ellen Keszler in April told
Business Travel News she expects to finalize a similar preferred deal with a major U.S. carrier though none has yet been announced.