"This is a major step forward in our strategy to attract more business travellers. Europe's travel managers and their clients can now book with easyJet, therefore removing the last barrier to the corporate travel market." Andy Harrison, chief executive, EasyJet EasyJet is targeting the €90 billion (US$133 billion) European corporate travel market with break-hrough distribution deals with Amadeus and Galileo. It becomes the first major low-fare airline in Europe to sign up with the GDS networks, prompting derision from no-frills rival Ryanair. The decision to increase its distribution options is clearly motivated by the business market, which now accounts for around 20% of easyJet's traffic, and follows a series of moves aimed at attracting the corporate traveller. These include speedy boarding, the ability to take an earlier flight if space is available without incurring an additional charge, and paid access to lounges. Distribution through Amadeus and Galileo is specifically targeting travel agencies specialising in business travel and easyJet will apply a point-of-sale fee (the same principle applies to all non-internet sales, such as telephone and airport sales) to the cost of the fare. To enable the agreements, Amadeus and Galileo have separately delivered new technology to connect each GDS directly to easyJet's inventory, allowing travel agents, for the first time, to make bookings on the airline within their routine workflow and channel. Says Andy Harrison, easyJet's chief executive: "This is a major step forward in our strategy to attract more business travellers. As an airline, we have always appealed to businesses by offering an excellent high-frequency, flexible product between Europe's major airports. Europe's travel managers and their clients can now book with easyJet, therefore removing the last barrier to the corporate travel market." However, Ryanair's head of communications, Peter Sherrard, criticised easyJet’s deal with the travel trade, describing agents as "the costliest parasites in the travel industry". "Easyjet has always been a closet high-fares airline and we are delighted to see that they are coming out," he said. "We are offering millions of seats at a fraction of Easyjet's high fares, with no rip-off middlemen, guaranteed." More lounges for Geneva
SWISS has opened a further two executive lounges at Geneva Airport – one for First Class passengers and the other for Senator members of the Miles and More frequent flyer programme. Together with the existing Business Class lounge opened earlier this year, the carrier now offers a total of 845m2, accommodating up to 200 passengers at any one time. Facilities include computer terminals with free wired and wireless internet access, and complimentary food, with different offerings in each lounge. The Swiss carrier will also shortly be opening three more lounges at Zurich Airport to meet growing customer demand, especially among the business travel community. The dedicated First Class check-in area will be enlarged and travellers from Zurich will also benefit from a new airport ticket office, opening this month. Boost for business
Priority boarding for its Business Select passengers is one of a number of measures introduced by Dallas-based Southwest Airlines in an effort to attract more corporate travellers. An additional credit for the carrier's Rapid Rewards frequent flyer programme and a complimentary cocktail on board are among the other perks. The low-cost carrier has also simplified its fare structure into just three categories: Business Select, Business and Wanna Get Away, its discounted fares
| 
|
