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Posted Jan 6, 2012
United Airlines has "spared no expense" in preparing for the switch to a unified passenger services system, scheduled to occur before the end of the current quarter, according to senior vice president of worldwide sales Dave Hilfman. Following its merger with Continental Airlines, United opted to consolidate operations on Continental's pre-existing Shares system, furnished by HP.
Posted Nov 28, 2011
The Millennium Foundation For Innovative Finance For Health pulled the plug on Massivegood, a fundraising project meant to collect charitable donations from travelers when they book travel services. "The board does not see sufficient enough returns for such a micro-philanthropy initiative in today's economic climate," according to a Millennium Foundation statement. "Local and 'green' causes often took precedence for travel industry partners over the global health causes championed by the foundation." Millennium added that it is searching for a third party to license the donation technology developed by Amadeus. Let's hope they find one, because it's a good cause and it would be a shame if the unusual collaboration between GDS operators that helped make the program a reality is wasted.
Posted Oct 20, 2011
Travelport announced a "joint product development agreement" with existing partner TravelSky Technology Limited of China. Travelport for years has provided to TravelSky airline technology, including e-ticket and interline systems, but now it will jointly develop technology with an entity not known for innovation.
A Chinese state-controlled firm, TravelSky provides reservations and departure control systems for Chinese airlines and operates the only global distribution system currently licensed to issue tickets in that country.
Posted Aug 21, 2011
Denver - Unionized employee groups for United Airlines and Continental Airlines on Sunday picketed in front of the Colorado Convention Center here just as the Global Business Travel Association was kicking off its annual convention. Chief among the flight attendants' and pilots' complaints are management's efforts to outsource more flying to regional feeder carriers. They also want pay raises, and they want United Continental Holdings CEO Jeff Smisek, appearing at the opening session of the GBTA conference, to hear their voices.
Posted Aug 21, 2011
I gotta agree with Travel Leaders' take on a recent statement by President Barack Obama. The remark that drew the company's attention, spoken during a town hall meeting last week in Atkinson, Ill., was this: "When was the last time somebody went to a bank teller instead of using an ATM? Or used a travel agent instead of going online? A lot of jobs that used to require people now have become automated."
Posted Aug 12, 2011
Though there are many questions and potential ramifications--known and unknown--on American Airlines' Direct Connect program, travel industry attorney Mark Pestronk said that for travel agencies, "there seems to be no harm" in signing up for it.
Posted Jun 23, 2011
Travelport named former British Airways executive Ian Heywood head of strategic planning for global supplier services, a new position. Tasked with coordinating Travelport's four regional supplier relations leaders, Heywood is responsible for "execution of the company's global vision and strategy for its air, rail and cruise supplier customers."
Posted Jun 3, 2011
Travel Weekly yesterday published comments from travel industry lawyer Mark Pestronk on American Airlines' Direct Connect program. I like Mark. He has helped out over the years, and much of what he said in that Travel Weekly piece seems about right to me. But not all of it. I felt compelled to respond.
Posted Apr 28, 2011
American Airlines last summer famously (or infamously) began offering a package of perks that may interest corporate travelers but withheld that package from the booking channels most likely to be used by those travelers. Delta is doing the same thing.
Posted Nov 22, 2010
A Cook County, Ill., circuit judge on Friday approved a temporary restraining order preventing American Airlines from terminating deals with Orbitz Worldwide. AA a few weeks ago notified Orbitz--48 percent-owned by Travelport--of its intention to cancel those agreements, effective Dec. 1. Instead, the parties on Dec. 2 will begin a preliminary injunction hearing in the circuit court to determine each parties' rights.
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