TRAVELPORT last month signed a multi-year agreement with Akbar Travels, India’s largest travel consolidator, to become the agency’s exclusive GDS technology partner in the Middle East.
Having secured a leading market position in India, the south east Asian travel giant is now moving in to capture a significant share of the Middle East market, with retail outlets opened recently across the UAE and Saudi Arabia and branches in the pipeline for Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.
Akbar Travels now uses the Galileo system to distribute, manage and book travel management services for all of its customers in the Middle East.
“We are at an important stage in our expansion plans and believe that Travelport is well-positioned to complement our fast-tracked growth,” said Abdul Nazar, chairman and managing director, Akbar Travels. “As we foray into the Middle East market, we are confident that the Galileo system will streamline our operations significantly and equip us with the tools for long-term success.”
“Akbar is a strategic win for Travelport and promises to solidify our already strong presence in the Middle East. We are both in an exciting phase of development in this region and look forward to leveraging our respective strengths in order to provide the best travel solutions on the market,” said Rabih Saab, Travelport vice president Middle East.
Travelport also signed a multi-year agreement with Al Rais Travel, one of the largest travel agencies in the UAE, for its flagship Galileo reservation system.
Edris Mohammed Taher, deputy managing director, Al Rais Travel and Tours said, “Working with a GDS provider that understands the requirements of our business not only helps us operate more effectively, but gives us a competitive edge.”
Another announcement made by the GDS provider was a multi-year full content agreement with Virgin Atlantic, giving all Galileo and Worldspan connected travel agents access to the airline’s full published fares and inventory. The global agreement, which also includes access to the airline’s lowest web fares, extends the long standing relationship between the two organisations.