Amadeus takes increased share and claims market-leading performance in 2013

Amadeus claims it outperformed the market in 2013, growing market share in its core airfare distribution business to over 40%.

Amadeus claims it outperformed the market in 2013, growing market share in its core airfare distribution business to over 40%.

The 1.5% market share increase was fuelled by a 38.1% increase in air travel agency bookings in North America where it took share from Sabre through its partnership with Expedia.

This more than made up for a 0.4% contraction in Amadeus’s stronghold, Western Europe. Overall revenue increased by 5.3%, to €2,317.8 million, while air travel agency bookings rose 6.5% to 443.4 million.

IT Solutions, Amadeus’s other key business division, saw revenue increase by 10.8% to €785.9 million, while passengers boarded rose 9.2% to total 615.7 million.

Overall revenues in 2013 increased 6.6% to €3,104 million, while profitability as measured by EBITDA was €1,889, up 7.2%.

Amadeus said during the year it accelerated its move into new business areas with the acquisition of Newmarket International, a leading US-based hotel IT provider, for $500 million.

Luis Maroto, president and chief executive, said: “Amadeus has maintained its record of delivering success both in revenues and profitability.

“Our transaction-based business model has continued to be resilient in the face of industry challenges, while our investment in R&D, which drives product evolution and portfolio expansion, has contributed to our continued growth.

“Even in the context of slow growth in the wider market, Amadeus continued to outperform the travel distribution industry and reinforce its leading position in the air distribution segment.

“This was most apparent in North America, one of our strategic targets for expansion, where despite contraction in the region we achieved a 38.1% increase.

“Our commitment to growth in new regions was also evident in the IT Solutions business, where the number of passengers boarded in the Asia Pacific markets increased by 57.6%. The region became the second biggest market for the IT Solutions business, and this shift will continue as migrations of Asian carriers take place during 2014 and 2015.

“We continued to execute on our strategy of developing new business areas, and made particular progress in the airport and hotel segments.

“With the acquisition of Newmarket International, a leader in the Hotel IT industry, we have enhanced our presence in a key growth area for Amadeus.

“Meanwhile our airports unit made progress in the ground-handling area as well as signing key agreements with Copenhagen and Munich airports.

“Overall I am confident that Amadeus has the financial strength, the portfolio and the right strategy for continued success in the travel technology industry.”