Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 7 January, 2010 - Travelport, one of the world's leading global distribution system (GDS) providers, has been re-appointed as preferred GDS provider to Flight Centre Limited ("Flight Centre"), Australasia's best known travel agency group with more than 2,000 shops. The new contract covers nine countries and territories including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, UAE and South Africa.

The new five-year agreement will see Travelport, operator of the Galileo and Worldspan systems, provide GDS services to Flight Centre's wholly-owned and affiliated travel agencies through to 2015. The announcement reaffirms the long standing partnership between Travelport and Flight Centre which has been in place since the early 1980s when Flight Centre began operations in Australia. The two companies have grown together as Flight Centre has expanded its presence across the globe.

"This new agreement is a reflection of the confidence and value we place in Galileo and the Travelport organisation," said Graham Turner, Managing Director, Flight Centre. "In addition to extending our GDS relationship, we will work with Travelport with a view to introducing other products to our shops in Australia and other countries."

"This agreement represents an enormous vote of confidence in Travelport worldwide. We are committed to leading the way in global distribution systems with innovative products such as our upcoming Travelport Universal Desktop, comprehensive travel search and pricing and the aggregation of additional travel content, all matched to our unparalleled customer service. Flight Centre has, through this announcement, confirmed not only that Travelport is delivering today but also has the technology and product pipeline necessary for the future needs of such a large and global travel group," said Gordon Wilson, President and CEO, Travelport GDS.

"We are delighted to renew our partnership with Flight Centre, building on our respective organisations' long-standing collaborative relationship. Over the years, Flight Centre has partnered together with us in trialling a wide range of products and solutions for leisure and corporate markets. Flight Centre also provides invaluable feedback to us making it a truly valued partner," said Armin Meier, Chief Commercial Officer, Travelport GDS.

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About Flight Centre
Flight Centre Limited is Australasia's best known travel agency group and now boasts more than 2000 shops and businesses in 11 countries. The company, through its retail and corporate brands, provides a complete travel service for leisure and business travellers in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Hong Kong, India, China, Singapore and Dubai. In addition, the company's corporate travel management network, FCm Travel Solutions, extends to more than 40 other countries through strategic licensing agreements with independent local operators.

Flight Centre Limited's best known and most successful business is the Flight Centre retail travel brand. The company's other leisure, corporate and wholesale brands include Liberty Travel in the United States, Escape Travel, Travel Associates, Student Flights, quickbeds.com, FCm Travel Solutions, Corporate Traveller, Stage & Screen, Campus Travel, CiEvents, Infinity Holidays and GoGo Worldwide Vacations. Internationally, the company employs about 13000 consultants and support staff.

About Travelport
Travelport is one of the world's largest travel conglomerates offering broad based business services to companies operating in the global travel industry. The company 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; IT Services and Software, which hosts mission critical applications and provides business and data analysis solutions for major airlines.  With 2008 revenues of US$2.5 billion, Travelport operates in 160 countries and has over 5,300 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.

Travelport is now the only GDS to offer a full Service and Support Centre in the Pacific region.

More information about Travelport is available at www.travelport.com 

Media Enquiries:
Alana Ngoh
PR Manager, Travelport GDS Middle East
Tel:  +971 4 607 0548
Mobile: + 971 50 810 0972
E-mail: alana.ngoh@travelport.com 

© Press Release 2010