The Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO) has signed retailing agreements with Sabre and Amadeus to expand their merchandising capabilities for airlines.
The partnership will enable both GDSs, two of the world’s largest travel technology companies, to become authorised distributors of ATPCO’s Routehappy Rich Content to travel agencies, OTAs, corporate travel buyers and airline IT customers.
In addition to API access, ATPCO will also provide flat file access to Routehappy Rich Content to Amadeus and Sabre for the first time. This accelerates the rate at which both companies can integrate the descriptive and visual content of Routehappy, which was acquired by ATPCO in 2018, across its applications and in airline direct channels to power richer flight shopping experiences for travel sellers and buyers.
“The tipping point for modernising flight shopping at scale is finally here,” stated Robert Albert, executive vice president, retailing at ATPCO, as the active participation of both Sabre and Amadeus demonstrates the momentum of industry-wide transformation in flight shopping.
Albert added: “Over the next five years, world-class airline retailing will become the norm, making flight selling much more valuable for the industry and providing consumers many more choices for a better shopping experience. The airline industry has just taken a giant leap forward.”
Wade Jones, president of Sabre Travel Network, said: “Our expanded agreement with ATPCO further demonstrates Sabre’s commitment to modernise the airline retailing experience for our customers through next generation retailing, distribution and fulfilment capabilities. This long-term agreement will allow us to enhance our leading air shopping solutions with ATPCO’s Routehappy Rich Content today and in the future as the airline industry continues to evolve.”
Additionally, Sabre will continue to support ATPCO’s Next Generation Storefront (NGS) standard, which helps sales channels modernise the shopping experience for consumers. Sabre has been a key partner with ATPCO and other industry players to help develop and test a new, innovative approach to shopping based on NGS standards.
As part of the retailing agreement, Amadeus will also support ATPCO’s NGS standard, which helps sales channels modernise the shopping experience for consumers. The partnership will exponentially scale the adoption of Routehappy Rich Content, putting in place an unrivalled new technology foundation for the next generation of flight shopping.
Decius Valmorbida, president travel channels at Amadeus, said: “This (agreement) is yet another step in Amadeus’ strategy to drive the digital transformation of the travel industry, and adds to initiatives such as the work we are doing with ATPCO on the NGS, and the progress we are making with new standards such as NDC and One Order. These are the stepping stones towards a true retailing environment in travel, that we are putting in place together with our customers and industry partners.”
