"Very Strong" Business Travel Lifts Travelport GDS Bookings

Travelport today reported global distribution segments increased 6 percent in the first quarter this year, compared with the same period in 2009, yet another sign of a continued business travel recovery, CEO Jeff Clarke said. Still, the growth in segments was not enough to offset the $21 million loss the company reported for the quarter.

"While we're not back to the peaks of the market pre-crisis, we're certainly seeing a solid cyclical recovery," Clarke said, noting that business travel has been particularly strong when compared with other market segments. He said air segments through Travelport's GDS channels should surpass the International Air Transport Association's 5.6 percent growth estimate for 2010 global air traffic. "That is because business travel is very strong now," he said. "We're seeing double-digit growth in business travel."

Though transaction volumes continued to recover during the first quarter, April segments fell shy of the 6 percent average recorded for the fist three months of 2010. "Even with volcanic ash, in April we were up 5.5 percent in segments," Clarke told investors today.

Meanwhile, Clarke said Travelport this week increased the number of daily fare feeds it accepts from the Airline Tariff Publishing Co. from 14 to 24, noting the hourly update of fare content would provide subscribers with better data and more dynamic market fares.