Farelogix News Release
Farelogix Readies Airline Merchandising Solutions
Several Leading Airlines to Deliver Merchandising Content Through XML-based Direct Connections
MIAMI – April 27, 2010 – Farelogix, a leading provider of distribution technology and services for the travel industry, today announced an enhanced XML Direct Connect technology that enables airlines to sell ancillary products and services across multiple indirect channels. The company also unveiled details of an expanded pilot program for its SPRK Travel Agency Platform.
Farelogix XML Direct Connect
Farelogix’s newly enhanced XML Direct Connect technology, developed exclusively for airlines that want to control the distribution of their bundled, branded, and ancillary products (collectively referred to as airline merchandising), is currently in production and gives airlines the choice to sell ancillary products and services across multiple indirect channels. A number of major carriers – including Air Canada, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, and United Airlines – have embraced the Farelogix XML direct connection strategy.
According to Farelogix President and CEO Jim Davidson, “The Farelogix developed XML-based direct connection, inclusive of new merchandising support capabilities, is quickly becoming the ‘preferred pipe’ because it enables easier and more economical connectivity to various internal airline systems. Carriers can choose to dynamically create unique offers, such as pricing bundles and ancillary services, based on customer criteria such as corporation, agency affiliation, and frequent flyer status. This capability – to package, personalize, and ultimately control their product offering – has never before been possible for airlines, outside of their own websites.”
Control of this new XML Direct Connect technology rests squarely with the airlines. Each airline’s XML Direct Connect includes a normalized “standardized-yet-flexible” application program interface (API) that the airline can utilize internally and/or choose to make available to its distribution and channel partners. With one single development effort, a third party developer (or GDS, or any other intermediary), can be “plugged in” to all of the direct connect airlines. It is then up to individual airlines to decide which connections actually get activated, or “switched on”.
“Each airline determines who gets access to its XML Direct Connect. It’s Farelogix’s job to deliver the technology and ensure the API can be easily integrated,” explains Davidson. Currently, over 40 third-party companies are actively developing to the Farelogix standardized XML API, which includes full support for Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMD’s).
SPRK Agency Platform
In a separate but related initiative, Farelogix has recently expanded its pilot program for the SPRK Travel Agency Platform, which is being used in production by travel agencies in Canada, the United States and Germany. Farelogix SPRK is a travel agency point of sale that is fully integrated with all Farelogix direct connect airlines, including the airlines mentioned above as well as US Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Lufthansa. Additional carriers – including Etihad, Qatar, Ethiopian, Austrian, and others – will be phased in over the remainder of 2010. All of the airlines will be offering full-content reservations and post-booking servicing, with a growing number also offering selected bundled products and ancillary services at the point of sale.
SPRK capabilities go well beyond airline direct content. The basic package, available to travel agents free of charge, also includes profile and service fee management modules, support for EMDs as well as the capability to feed travel data to agency mid and back office systems (MIR-FLX).
Car, hotel and destination content reservations capabilities are fully integrated through respective partnerships with CarTrawler, Alliance Reservations Network, and Unaira. Itinerary data from SPRK’s multi-source superPNR can optionally be integrated with TripIt’s robust trip management system. Optional SPRK add-on features include additional air content from AgentWare and/or seamless integration with the agency’s GDS, provided by PASS Consulting. GDS integration requires permission from the agency’s GDS.
Quotes from Farelogix Airline Customers
- Air Canada – Graham Wareham, Senior Director, Product Distribution: “Distributing fare families, bundled products and ancillary services is an important product and service strategy for Air Canada and our customers. We are committed to ensuring that our partner travel agencies have the ability to efficiently offer the best Air Canada product to our mutual customers at all times. Due to its complete integration with the full Air Canada suite of products, SPRK is extremely well positioned to provide agencies with this competitive advantage.”
- AirTran Airways – Matthew Klein, Director of Pricing and Distribution: “AirTran Airways has worked to leverage XML connectivity for all distribution partners for several years, and Farelogix is among the first to offer a fully functional system that supports our goals. The traveling public is the true winner in this process. Leisure travelers will gain access to new ancillary products and services. Corporate travelers and Travel Management Company (TMC) partners will gain improved access to AirTran Airways’ fares, schedules, and benefits. Leisure customers gain access, corporations save money, TMCs gain efficiencies, and all parties involved will enjoy improved savings and profitability through a simplified travel management process. We are excited to work with Farelogix and look forward to many distribution partners incorporating AirTran Airways’ direct connect content into their offerings.”
- American Airlines – Cory Garner, Director of Merchandising: “The most successful airlines and travel agencies will be those that offer corporate and leisure customers more visibility, choice, and control of their optional services spend. Travel agencies using SPRK can simultaneously access airline fares and optional services from multiple content sources in a single screen. And, since SPRK is available at no charge, it provides agencies with a risk-free window into the future of travel distribution.”
- Continental Airlines – Chris Amenechi, Senior Director of Merchandising and Ancillary Revenues: “Continental Airlines is committed to supporting the development of technology that delivers value and improves the overall customer experience. The Farelogix XML API offers an opportunity to expand the distribution of our ancillary products and services through direct connection technology to which we are committed.”
About SPRK Pilots
SPRK pilots are being managed on a limited basis, with a broader market release scheduled for June 2010. For more detail, see www.sprk.farelogix.com. In addition, a brief SRPK introduction video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/farelogix.
About Farelogix
Farelogix is a leading provider of lower-cost, high-value distribution and optimization technology to the global travel industry. Farelogix counts among its customers some of the largest travel companies in the world. Farelogix is a privately held company with offices in Toronto, Canada and Miami, Florida. For additional information, visit www.farelogix.com.
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Press Contact
Jodi Echakowitz
Echo Communications (for Farelogix)
Tel: +1 905-709-9600
Email: jodi@echo-communications.com
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