Madrid, Spain, 6 March 2013:Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, and Thalys, the international high-speed rail operatorconnecting Paris and Brussels withGermany and the Netherlands, announce today a partnership agreement to distribute Thalys’services through Amadeus’ global distribution system, starting in Germany.
Users of Amadeus Selling Platform, Amadeus’ point of sale for travel agents, and Amadeus e-Travel Management, the company self-booking tool for corporate users, will have access to the full range of Thalys’ fares, including corporate negotiated fares, schedules and availability to effectively compare Thalys high speed rail services with flights on specific routes. Thalys will be presented as a real alternative to air travel, giving the railway better market exposure, and ensuring that travellers have greater choice and transparency of options.
Travellers will also benefit from additional advantages, such as the possibility of booking a complete ticketless train travel experience using Thalys Ticketless (TKL) – that permits to travel without a paper ticket –or collecting Miles on Thalys’ loyalty programme TheCard.
The addition of Thalysinto the Amadeus booking flow will permit travel agents to benefit froma more simple and faster booking process as well asfrom increased productivity and efficiency, thanks toautomatic integrationinto the Amadeus Passenger Name Record (PNR[1]) andIATA’sBilling and Settlement Plan (BSP).
This agreement is a step forward in Thalys’ strategy to expand its international distribution reach,to grasp new market segments such as corporations whilst improving distribution beyond traditional channels. Moreover, for the future it enables Thalysto developinterline agreements with airlines, allowing travel agents to combine a flight with a high-speed rail link on the same ticket or to combine rail and air services with hotel & car.
Scheherazade Zekri-Chevallet, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Thalys, commented “We are glad to work with Amadeus as our distribution partner for travel agencies and corporations. This agreementwill allow us to compete with short-haul air travel, facilitating travel agents’ access to ourpublic and corporate fares, and scheduleswhilst giving Thalys access to new revenue opportunities.”
Thomas Drexler, Director of Amadeus Rail, commented: “With the addition of Thalys to Amadeus’ global distribution system, Amadeus continues to build the most complete and relevant rail offering for the travel agency community.We are proud to have the only multi-channel rail-dedicated distribution platform that is helping railways to expand their international distribution
[1]Amadeus Passenger Name Record (PNR) is the booking record of Amadeus containing all thetraveler’s information.The PNR includes basic traveller data, such as name, contacts, and special needs, as well as the customer’s full itinerary, including any air, hotel, rail, car or any other travel segments.