Travelport acquires third party distributor in Japan

Travelport has expanded in Asia with the purchase of its distribution business Galileo Japan from a consortium of airline owners.

Travelport has expanded in Asia with the purchase of its distribution business Galileo Japan from a consortium of airline owners.

The acquisition for an undisclosed sum comes as Travelport continues to invest and enhance its global Travel Commerce Platform covering air merchandising, hotel distribution, B2B payments and mobile commerce.

Japan is one of the world’s leading travel markets and the third largest after the US and China in terms of airline seats offered for sale due to its large volume of domestic air travel bookings.

Travelport president and chief executive, Gordon Wilson, said: “This is a tuck in acquisition of a business we know well and have worked with for three decades.

“The decision to transform from a distribution franchise to a wholly owned operation is commensurate with our goals to further expand our successful business across Asia.

“Japan is a major travel market and owning our operation here, whilst continuing our other successful strategic partnerships in Japan, will enhance our growth prospects in the country.

“We calculate that we now process nearly half of all international air bookings made by Japanese travel agencies and lead the market.”

The extended business will build on operations Travelport has offered in Japan for 30 years and allow for much tighter alignment in terms of products and services offered, according to the company, which will still offer customers a choice of the Apollo or Worldspan GDS platforms.

All former Galileo Japan staff, including managing director, Yoshinobu Aoyama, will switch to the new Travelport entity which will be headquartered in Tokyo and supported by satellite offices in Nagoya and Osaka.

Aoyama said: “We see this acquisition as a very positive move for our customers. Now, with the full backing of Travelport, we will be better placed to take advantage of the considerable opportunities that we see ahead of us in the region.

“The new investment in our business and team means that our travel agency customers will benefit from enhanced services and support.”