Ryanair Signs Global Distribution Agreement with Travelport

Ryanair has signed a global distribution agreement with Travelport that will see the low cost carrier’s content made available to Travelport-connected travel agencies.

Ryanair, which operates one of the world’s largest airline fleets with 300 Boeing aircraft, and 175 more on order, will carry over 81.5m passengers this year on Europe’s largest airline route network connecting 186 airports in 30 countries.

Through the agreement, Ryanair fares, as well as their extensive ancillary products and services, will be introduced to Travelport travel agencies in a phased approach from 19th March 2014.

Ryanair’s decision to work with Travelport follows the launch last year of the Travelport Merchandising Platform and specifically the aggregated shopping component it offers low cost carriers. This technology enables low cost carriers to provide their content via an API connection, rather than the more traditional fare filing methods often favoured by network carriers, and still have their fares and ancillaries displayed, compared and booked in exactly the same way.

As well as adopting Travelport’s aggregated shopping functionality, the two organisations will also work together to deploy Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding product offering. This solution allows airlines to more effectively control how their flights and ancillaries are visually presented and described on travel agency screens, bringing them more in line with the airline’s own website experience.

Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, said, “This partnership with Travelport is a significant development for Ryanair and for businesses across Europe and beyond as we continue to evolve our business offering. As Europe’s largest airline, we’ll carry over 81.5m customers this year on the largest route network, connecting 186 airports in 30 countries. More than 22% of these customers already choose Ryanair for business travel and we expect that percentage to grow as this partnership allows corporate travel departments, travel management companies and businesses even greater access to Ryanair’s low fares and routes, ensuring they save millions of euro in travel expenses every year.”