easyJet GDS Innovation

easyJet PLC
05 November 2007



Monday 5 November 2007



easyJet signs break-through distribution deals with Amadeus and Galileo for the
                            corporate travel market


easyJet will target the $90 billion* European corporate travel market with
break-through distribution deals with Amadeus and Galileo, part of Travelport
GDS.


This innovative business development will enable corporate travel agencies to
view and book easyJet flights within their preferred GDS environment, alongside
other carriers to make easy comparisons and bookings.


This is the first time a major European low-fares airline has made its inventory
available to the GDS providers. easyJet, Amadeus and Galileo recognise the
demand from the corporate travel market for easier access to easyJet's low-fares
and attractive business-related services. easyJet also aims to grow its
proportion of business passengers, currently around 20%, through the managed
business travel segment, which is largely booked by travel agencies through the
GDSs.


Distribution through Amadeus and Galileo is specifically targeting travel
agencies specialising in business travel and easyJet will apply a point-of-sale
fee (the same principle applies to all non-internet sales, such as telephone and
airport sales) to the cost of the airfare.


To enable the agreements, Amadeus and Galileo have separately delivered new
technology to connect each GDS directly to easyJet's inventory, allowing travel
agents, for the first time, to make bookings on the airline within their
everyday workflow and channel.


The agreements represent the next step in the evolution of the low-fare airline
industry and reinforce the value of the GDS as a sales channel bringing gains
for the low cost airline segment.


Andy Harrison, easyJet's Chief Executive, said:


'This is a major step forward in our strategy to attract more business
travellers. easyJet has always appealed to businesses by offering an excellent
high-frequency, flexible product between Europe's major airports and now
Europe's travel managers and their clients can book with easyJet, therefore
removing the last barrier to the corporate travel market.'


'easyJet will maintain its direct sell business strategy, by adding a
point-of-sale fee we can ensure our website remains our primary distribution
channel and fares will always be cheapest when booking direct online.'


'However, even with the point-of-sale fee, easyJet seats sold through the GDS
will still be dramatically cheaper than those offered on any of the traditional
airlines.'


David Jones, Executive Vice President, Commercial, Amadeus, said:


'This agreement with easyJet underscores and validates the effort we have made
to understand and offer a tailor-made solution for the low fare airline 
segment.'


'We have built a solution that connects the GDS directly to the inventory of
ticketless carriers, enabling them to distribute efficiently through the GDS.
Using this technology we can now offer business travel agencies key easyJet
content, with a booking process that is integrated directly into their regular
work process.'


Bryan Conway, Managing Director, EMEA, Travelport GDS said:


'By integrating easyJet's services directly into our core GDS, we are able to
offer even richer content to our business travel agents and their customers.'


'Galileo can now provide agents with the same straightforward and highly
efficient way to book this content as they have with other airlines, whilst also
offering today's low-cost carriers with a simplified means to distribute to the
travel trade.'


Amadeus is carrying out detailed pilots in Germany, France, Spain and UK which
will end in November. As soon as those pilots are concluded, Amadeus will make
easyJet flights available to all eligible agencies worldwide. easyJet flights
will also be available through Galileo in the UK by the end of the year and the
rest of Europe in the New Year.


This announcement is the latest development in easyJet's campaign to increase
its proportion of business passengers, currently around 20%. easyJet offers an
extensive route network, high frequencies to main city airports and low-fares
and this move follows the recent introduction of business passenger targeted
services such as speedy boarding and the hop on an earlier flight for free
policy.


                                    - ENDS -


For more information contact:


easyJet press office:

Tel:     [phone]

Email:   [e-mail]



Galileo press office:

Kate Aldridge

Tel:     + 44 1753 288720 / + 44 7921 698757

Email:   [e-mail]



Amadeus Corporate & Marketing Communication:

Tel :    [phone]

Fax :    [phone]

Email:   [e-mail]



Notes to editors:



*According to PhoCusWright Corporate Travel Distribution Report August 2006, the
value of European corporate travel market was estimated at $88.2billion in 2005,
representing a third of the total travel market and is expected to grow at a
rate of 11% over the next three years.


The point-of-sale fee per sector is variable, incentivising corporate travel
agents to book more sectors; the basic fee is €7.50 per sector for bookings with
one sector, reducing to €6 per sector for bookings with two sectors and €5 per
sector for bookings with three of more sectors.



                      This information is provided by RNS
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