Travelport to reveal new booking platform for Japanese agents

Travelport is poised to unveil a new booking platform for Japanese travel agents.

Travelport is poised to unveil a new booking platform for Japanese travel agents.

The company has forged a partnership with Japan Airlines-owned GDS AXESS International Network.

The deal will see an upgraded booking system being introduced next month following the final stages of user testing.

As part of the partnership, AXESS also stands to benefit from $300 million in IT investment Travelport is making on an annual basis.

Travelport started working with AXESS in April last year to design the enhanced GDS.

The AXESS host system will benefit from Travelport’s technology infrastructure and will be hosted in its Atlanta data centre.

The new GDS technology will provide new benefits including up-to-date web services solutions’ low fare, air shopping technology, enhanced hotel and car content and improved airline connectivity.

When fully implemented, the GDS partnership will allow for enhanced customer service for Japanese travellers when abroad.

AXESS-connected agents will migrate to the new host system in a phased manner from October 1, with completion scheduled for the end of March.

Travelport chief commercial officer Kurt Ekert said: “Today’s news that we are launching the new AXESS host system, exactly when we said we would, and with all of the benefits it offers Japan’s travel trade, represents a great milestone in the technology partnership between AXESS and Travelport and opens the pathways for further opportunities in the future.

“We’ve developed a very strong and positive working relationship with AXESS since April last year, which has always been focused around putting the Japanese traveller first, and that’s exactly what we’ve achieved with this significant initiative.”

AXESS president and chief executive Hoshiko Nakano said: “AXESS understands that the airline and travel industry businesses are changing, and, as the bridge of these industries, this requires the GDS to also transform.

“Assuring global capability and cutting-edge products is crucial for AXESS to maintain its leading position in the GDS industry.

“By leveraging Travelport’s innovative technology, AXESS will continue to invest in new products and solutions as well as further enhancing our current offerings to be able to deliver more value to both airlines and travel agencies.”