Ryanair and Travelport have announced a global distribution agreement that will see the carrier’s content made available solely to Travelport-connected travel agencies, “in advance of any other GDS”, for the first time in over a decade.
Through the agreement, Ryanair fares, as well as their ancillary products and services, will be introduced to Travelport travel agencies in a phased approach from 19th March 2014.
Ryanair’s decision follows the launch last year of the Travelport Merchandising Platform and specifically the aggregated shopping component it offers low-cost carriers. This technology, unique to Travelport, enables low-cost carriers to provide their content via an API connection, rather than the more traditional fare filing methods often favoured by network carriers, and still have their fares and ancillaries displayed, compared and booked in exactly the same way.
The two companies will also work together to deploy Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding product offering. This solution allows airlines to more effectively control how their flights and ancillaries are visually presented and described on travel agency screens, bringing them more in line with the airline’s own website experience.
Sinead Reilly, Travelport’s Country Manager, Ireland, said: “To be able to offer our travel agency customers fares and ancillaries from low-cost airlines is something that the travel industry in Ireland has been crying out for. Travelport is delighted to be able to offer this content from Ryanair, one of the highest profile low-cost carriers in the world.”
