First Choice dynamic packaging earmarked for end of 2006

First Choice Independent Travel is expected to roll out its dynamic packaging technology to consumers after it launches the system to agents in April. The operator has been trialling the technology in its own shops and will offer the flights system to third party agents at the end of December before introducing hotels in April.…

First Choice Independent Travel is expected to roll out its dynamic packaging technology to consumers after it launches the system to agents in April.

The operator has been trialling the technology in its own shops and will offer the flights system to third party agents at the end of December before introducing hotels in April.

First Choice Independent Travel managing director Kyle Haughton said the technology will feature 125 scheduled, charter and low cost carriers together with 20,000 hotels. Car hire and attraction tickets will be added during the year.

While agents will get first crack at the system, First Choice will take the model direct to consumers, possibly by the end of the year.

“We’ve identified that £1bn worth of independent travel has been booked in 2005 and that will increase to £3bn by 2010,” said Haughton. “The system will feature areas where First Choice Holidays do not have classical packages such as Asia, Far East and Australia in addition to Europe and the Med. It will also allow agents to book multi-destination flights and stopovers, which no other site on the market offers.”

Seats can also be held for up to 48 hours, he added.

Another benefit is the speed of the system – developed in conjunction with Amadeus – which is twice as fast as the operator’s existing flights engine, said Haughton.