BTI UK strikes booking deal with easyJet

Business travel management company BTI UK is to gain a direct connection to easyJet’s reservation system.

BTI UK claims to be the largest booker of no frills airlines in the UK, arranging more than  60,000  flights a year. This pilot development is in direct response to the company’s objective to offer a comprehensive range of air travel solutions.

Integrating easyJet’s reservation systems within BTI UK’s own technology solutions strips out the unnecessary cost, strict booking processes, and lengthy process of booking ‘no frills’ airlines, for the benefit of corporate clients, the company said. BTI UK clients include Merrill Lynch and Bank of Scotland.

It added: “BTI UK is also exploring other opportunities to incorporate other low cost airlines into its technology platforms as appropriate and offer the benefits associated with direct access, including: faster reservations and increased efficiency, integration of no frills carriers within management reporting, increased cost and policy control, secure data handling (as personal information does not have to be transmitted via the internet) and direct comparison of fares across all airlines on one single screen.”

The carrier hopes to strike similar deals with other travel management companies.

EasyJet director Chris Walton said: “We have long argued that easyJet is ideal for business passengers. But some companies have been held back by the inability of their systems to talk to ours. The deal with BTI will remove that barrier.

“There will be no change to the easyJet business model or its pricing structures; and there are no special deals for BTI’s customers. We expect this to be as efficient as internet distribution.”  

He added: “We’re using technology to access a new market segment rather than going down the traditional airline route of employing an army of salespeople and offering customised services to every different company.”

BTI UK managing director Mike Platt said: “Our overriding objective is to add value for our clients by ensuring that we offer a complete range of travel management solutions designed to meet their needs.

“This partnership approach tackles the issues associated with current no frills airlines’ reservation systems – having to access a separate system, the need to use a credit card for payment, not seeing taxes and charges upfront and the time it takes to make a booking – for mutual benefit.

“By integrating no frills carriers into our own booking systems, we will offer our clients greater choice and ultimately reduce their costs. Giving direct access to all airlines’ reservation systems – whether the preferred option is a traditional carrier or ‘no frills’ airline – enables clients to compare routes and fares on a single screen and book them quickly, easily and cost effectively.

“In addition, and of equal importance, taking this approach ensures that such flights are identified, managed and controlled as part of a comprehensive approach to clients’ total travel management programmes.”

Meanwhile, easyJet is to launch a twice-daily Gatwick-Berlin service from September 26.

Report by Phil Davies