Dubai-Based Carrier and Leading GDS Provider Sign Major Global Deal

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 6 May, 2010:  Emirates airline and Travelport, one of the world's leading global distribution system (GDS) providers, today signed a major global content agreement that will provide all Galileo, Apollo and Worldspan-connected travel agents with access to the airline's full inventory of flights and fares.

The five-year deal, which takes effect immediately, ensures rate parity for Travelport's extensive worldwide network of travel agency users, providing them with access to the most up-to-date routes and fares from Emirates, including the airline's web fares.

"We are delighted to have signed an agreement that will guarantee full content to all Galileo, Apollo and Worldspan users," said Nabil Sultan, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice-President, Revenue Optimisation and Distribution. "With a significant worldwide network and long-standing GDS expertise, Travelport is an important distribution partner and this deal will further strengthen our position with its travel agent users."

"We have worked hard with Emirates to reach a cost-effective agreement that will truly benefit our travel agency customers worldwide," said Bryan Conway, Travelport GDS' President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa (MEA).  "This deal continues on our strategy of securing full content programmes across the globe and demonstrates the continued value of our distribution channel."

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About the Emirates Group
The Emirates Group is a vast organisation with manifold business interests in the aviation, travel, tourism and leisure industries. Employing more than 40,000 people across its 50 business units and associated firms, it is one of the biggest employers in the region and offers specialist services spanning almost every aspect of the market. Emirates' fleet of 146 aircraft is expanding rapidly as it takes delivery of almost $50 billion worth of aircraft on order, while in 2010, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Prague, Madrid and Dakar will be added to its network of more than 100 destinations. 

About Travelport
Travelport is a broad-based business services company and a leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions to companies operating in the global travel industry. Travelport is comprised of the global distribution system (GDS) business that includes the Worldspan and Galileo brands; GTA, a leading global, multi-channel provider of hotel and ground services; Airline IT Solutions, which hosts mission critical applications and provides business and data analysis solutions for major airlines. With 2009 revenues of $2.2 billion, Travelport operates in 160 countries and has approximately 5,400 employees.

Travelport also owns approximately 48% of Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), a leading global online travel company. Travelport is a private company owned by The Blackstone Group, One Equity Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures and Travelport management.

For more information, please visit www.travelport.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Alana Ngoh                  
PR Manager, Travelport GDS Middle East
Tel  +971 4 607 0548
Mob: + 971 50 810 0972
E-mail: alana.ngoh@travelport.com
 

© Press Release 2010