Amadeus widens content agreement with Air France-KLM

Amadeus and Air France-KLM extended their full-content agreement through the end of 2013, the companies say.

The previous agreement had travel agents accessing Air France-KLM content on a pan-European basis, says Philippe Chereque, Amadeus’ executive vice president, commercial, but with the contract extension agents can use the airlines’ global content.

In terms of Air France-KLM’s fares, schedules and inventory, the agreement puts travel agents hooked up to the Amadeus GDS on a level playing field with “any directo or indirect channel, distribution provider or website,” Amadeus says.

With the advent of social networking and airline merchandising, many observers view full-content agreements as misnomers. At best, the GDSs have a tough time on their hands closing loopholes.

In addition to Air France and KLM, the agreement covers subsidiary airlines Martinair and VLM, the companies say.

The Amadeus contracting-writing distribution team has been busy. The company says recent full-content agreements have been made with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, for three years each, and with Iberia, Lufthansa and Swiss, and SAS Group for five years each.