India’s Fast-Growing Kingfisher Airlines Chooses Global Distribution Services From Worldspan

by M.M.Khanna, C/O Services India, Chandigarh
Kingfisher Airlines, the fastest growing, privately owned commercial airline in India, has signed a new participating carrier agreement with global travel technology provider Worldspan, L.P. The carrier’s schedules, availability and fares were available through the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS) to worldwide points of sale.

Worldspan had been maintaining a strong international presence and sets the pace globally in airline merchandising, selling and ticketing technologies. We had been currently operating 70 flights daily across India and with expansion plans under way, we had been very confident Worldspan’s proven distribution performance would help us to meet our business goals. We had been looking forward to steady growth through this partnership, said Nigel Harwood, COO for Kingfisher Airlines.

We committed to share Kingfisher Airlines’ commitment serving India’s travel market through our proven technologies and competitive content. As a Worldspan participating carrier, Kingfisher would benefit from airline-focused solutions to boost revenues and ensure the best customer care, said Mr. Kevin Ficco, vice president – Airline Distribution and Business Development for Worldspan. Kingfisher Airlines’ participation in Worldspan provided the airline with Worldspan AccessPlus(SM) technology, which supported increasing airline technology requirements and business goals. It allowed airlines to communicate interactively with travel retailers and provided more extensive data electronically during the sales process, including last-seat availability, live seat maps and instant confirmations.

In addition, airlines could transmit record locators upon completion of transactions and immediately decrement inventory once flights sold, streamlining airline inventory management. Kingfisher Airlines, which commenced operations in May 2005, had been India’s first and only private airline to receive the prestigious Best New Airline of the Year award in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

Kingfisher Airlines had been a wholly owned subsidiary of United Breweries Holdings Limited, an investments holding company of the UB Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates. More information would be made available at www.flykingfisher.com About Worldspan, L.P. Worldspan had been a leader in travel technology services for travel suppliers, travel agencies, e-commerce sites and corporations worldwide. Utilizing some of the fastest, most flexible and efficient networks and computing technologies, Worldspan provided comprehensive electronic data services linking approximately 700 travel suppliers around the world to a global customer base. Worldspan offered industry-leading Fares and Pricing technology such as Worldspan e-Pricing(R), hosting solutions, and customized travel products.

Worldspan enabled travel suppliers, distributors and corporations to reduce costs and increased productivity with technology like Worldspan Go!(R) and Worldspan Trip Manager(R) XE. Worldspan had been headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Additional information is available at worldspan.com

May 23, 2006   Posted in: Airlines & Railways