Airberlin is adopting Amadeus Ancillary Services (AAAS) to distribute its ancillary offering to travel agencies, as well as through its website, call centres and ticket offices.
The solution now enables Amadeus travel agents in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to sell additional luggage, preferred seats, and meals using EMD (Electronic Miscellaneous Document) and provide a more customised service to travellers. The electronic messaging standard EMD facilitates the distribution and payment of ancillary services and is part of the e-Services IATA initiative to eliminate the use of paper and ease processes.
“The deal shows Amadeus' IT solutions are competitive and effective. Complementary services are gaining momentum,” analysts at Bankia Bolsa said Wednesday in an investor report, “with over 50 firms having introduced these extras.” In 2007, only 27 airlines added them when selling tickets.
airberlin is also using Amadeus EMD when distributing a selection of its optional services in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.
“We want to offer a consistent service to flight guests regardless of how they book,” said in a press release Jacob Fischer, vice president of Sales at airberlin. Fischer remarked that “Amadeus solution (…) increases the reach of our offer as well as travellers’ loyalty.”
“It helps airlines merchandise their optional services, gives travel agents a bigger chance to reinforce their role as travel consultants to the customer, and generates additional revenue,” Holger Taubmann of Amadeus explained.
Amadeus has integrated an interactive catalogue in its travel agency selling platform that displays the range of airline optional services available. In this way, the travel agent can view, book, and up-sell ancillary services. The content of the catalogue is controlled by the airline, which will use this space to differentiate its offer.
To date, 46 airlines have signed up for Amadeus Ancillary Services for the direct and/or indirect channel. 21 airlines have signed up to sell ancillary services using the Amadeus solution in the travel agency channel, and nine airlines–among which Air France, KLM, Iberia, Finnair, Qantas, and Corsairfly–are currently selling ancillary services through travel agencies in 16 markets.
