Amadeus UK reports strong growth

London, 16th April 2004: Amadeus UK, a leading global distribution system (GDS) and travel industry technology provider, has enjoyed it’s best first quarter for new sales by signing 13 new clients including, Sackville Travel, Explore Worldwide and Classic Collection Holidays – equalling more than one-million segments for Amadeus on an annual basis. Part of Amadeus’ recent success can be attributed to new synergies resulting from partnerships with leading software suppliers such as Travelink. These new client wins have helped Amadeus maintain its position as the fastest growing GDS in the UK. Mike Khan, managing director, Sackville Travel said, “I understand that some travel agents are reluctant to change GDS, but the benefits Amadeus offers in terms of agent productivity tools, pro-active customer support and the fact that they have such a strong partnership with many of the world’s leading airlines is too compelling to ignore. In the current environment you have to make the most of any advantage you can create and Amadeus has partnered with us to develop solutions that not only increase our productivity internally, they help us give our clients a better experience of working with us.” Amadeus UK’s value pricing proposition and measured approach to the pricing issue has also been well received during the first quarter. More than 85 percent of Amadeus UK clients have already chosen to opt-in to the new British Airways pricing plan for European and domestic flights in selected classes. This gives agents access to British Airways’ lowest fares and also enables travel agents opting into the scheme the added benefit of receiving a credit for each car, hotel or cruise booking made on Amadeus. Peter Cacioppo, Director of Sales for Amadeus UK, added “Feedback from both our new and existing customers shows that our partnership approach to working with our clients as well as the emphasis that we continue to place on product development and local support are key factors in our clients’ decisions to move to and stay with Amadeus. Customers have also applauded the measured approach we have taken to the recent pricing issue within the UK. We are extremely pleased with the take-up of our opt-in BA low fares access scheme, which includes the new productivity programme, and are glad that we took the time to find a long-term sustainable solution that works for all the parties involved.” – end – Notes to the Editors: Amadeus Global Travel Distribution (MAD: AMS) · Amadeus 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. Its comprehensive GDS data processing centre serves some 60,000 travel agency locations and more than 10,000 airline sales offices, which together total around 290,000 points of sale located in over 210 markets worldwide. Through the Amadeus GDS, travel agencies and airline offices are able to make bookings on more than 95 per cent of the world’s scheduled airline seats. The system also provides access to 63,000 hotel properties, 50 car rental companies serving some 25,600 locations, and other provider groups including: ferry; rail; cruise; insurance and tour operators. · Amadeus is a leading application service provider (ASP) to the airline industry. 140 airlines use the Amadeus Sales System in their offices to provide passengers with superior and seamless service at optimal cost. Amadeus’s new generation of Passenger Service Systems, which include all IT systems associated with inventory management and departure control, will be implemented by British Airways, Qantas and Finnair. · e-Travel, Amadeus’s e-commerce business unit, is global leader in online travel technology and corporate travel management solutions. It services travel agencies in 90 countries, and powers the websites of over 260 corporations and more than 60 airlines and hotels. Amadeus is headquartered in Madrid, Spain and quoted on the Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt stock exchanges. For the year ended 31 December 2003, the company reported revenues of EUR 1,929m and net income, excluding special items, of EUR 158.4m. The Amadeus data centre is in Erding (near Munich), Germany and its principal development offices are located in Sophia Antipolis (near Nice), France. The company has some 5,000 employees worldwide. More information about Amadeus is available at: www.amadeus.com For further information please contact: Amadeus UK Rob Golledge T: 0870 990 7851 F: 0870 990 9299 E: [email protected] W: www.amadeusuk.com Amadeus Press Bridget Agnew / Anya Velzeboer Financial Dynamics T: 020 7269 7219/7174 F: 020 7831 8438 E: [email protected]