Amadeus e-travel offers flexible web fares solution

AMADEUS E-TRAVEL OFFERS FLEXIBLE WEB FARES SOLUTION THROUGH STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH FARECHASE

Controlled access to low-cost carriers a boon for corporate travel managers

Waltham, Massachusetts, September 23, 2002: Demonstrating its ongoing leadership in the corporate travel arena, e-Travel, a leading global provider of online travel technology and business unit of Amadeus, is delivering comprehensive and flexible airfare access to its customers through a partnership with FareChase, the leading provider of Web automation technology.

The solution will provide e-Travel’s corporate and business travel agency customers access to travel providers and online travel inventory not available through traditional distribution channels, including low-cost carrier access. The sites searched can be configured by corporate travel managers to match their specific programs and preferences.
The offering will be included in an upcoming version of e-Travel® Aergo (US) due to be released this autumn and will be incorporated globally in 2003. e-Travel will also provide its Account Consulting and Education Services (ACES) expertise to help travel managers establish best practices and expertly analyze the impact of Web fares on their travel programs.

This new module will not only provide access to Web-only fares for major U.S. carriers, but also to key low-cost carriers that do not publish their schedules and inventory in all global distribution systems. In total, Aergo (US) users will have the ability to search and book Web fares on nearly 40 airline and agency sites, including major U.S. and domestic carriers, as well as consolidator sites.
Using the FareChase web automation software, e-Travel customers will be able to display published and negotiated airfares as well as airfares available only from travel Web sites. Travel managers can control which providers are accessed, and also what fares are displayed by indicating that travelers see only fares that are lower than published or negotiated fares. Travelers will be able to book such alternate fares, and the data captured is available for reporting purposes to accurately determine savings achieved.

“FareChase is committed to delivering a state-of-the-art, world-class solution to its partners,” said Krista Pappas, senior vice president of FareChase. “This strategic partnership brings together the powerful technologies of both companies to address marketplace changes, and enables e-Travel to offer the highest level of satisfaction to its customers.”

“We have long recognized and promoted the concept of comprehensive fare access, and as the issue of Web-only fares and low-cost carriers has evolved, e-Travel remains on the forefront by listening to our customers and applying our industry knowledge and expertise,” said Scott Gutz, CEO and president, e-Travel.

Notes to the Editors:

About e-Travel
e-Travel is a leading global provider of online travel technology and business unit of Amadeus. It provides e-commerce solutions for airlines, corporations, travel agencies and other online travel businesses, and is dedicated to its customers’ net success. e-Travel serves customers in more than 90 countries, including corporations such as Airbus, Daimler Chrysler, Gateway, Inc., Ingersoll-Rand Company, Oracle Corporation and Philip Morris Companies, as well as travel suppliers such as Air France, Iberia and Qantas, and online agencies such as Opodo.

Parent company Amadeus Global Travel Distribution SA is the leading global distribution system (GDS) and technology provider serving the marketing, sales and distribution needs of the world’s travel and tourism industries.

For more information about e-Travel please visit www.e-travel.com.

About FareChase, Inc.
FareChase, Inc. (www.farechase.com) is the leading provider of real-time Web automation technology for the travel industry. Established in 1999, the management team consists of Lior Delgo, President; Ofer Shaked, CTO; Boaz Behar, VP, R&D, and Krista Pappas, SVP, Strategic Planning & Partnerships. Motti Kirschenbaum, Chairman of the Board, is developer of the High Tech Center, Ben Gurion Airport, Israel. Other Board members: Bill Burgess, Managing Director, DB Capital/Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) Hanan Gilutz, co-founder of Orbotech, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ORBK) and Alex Wilmerding, Principal, Boston Capital Ventures.

For further information please contact:

Fred Iannotti
Patrice Tanaka & Company, Inc.
(203) 426-1377
[email protected]

Jeffrey Hodes
VP, Corporate Relations
FareChase, Inc.
Tel. : +1 646 452-0660
E-mail : [email protected]