Amadeus is preparing to distribute more low-cost carrier seats and says it will offer Monarch next year alongside budget airlines from Germany, France and Scandinavia.
The technology provider set the pace with LCCs last year when it announced a groundbreaking distribution deal with Easyjet, albeit with the universally-reviled point-of-sale fee of between £4 and £5.
Amadeus UK and Ireland managing director Stephane Durand said: “We think Monarch will come in the first quarter of 2009, as will LCCs based in France, Germany and Scandinavia, but we don’t think all of them will come with a surcharge because they will want to maximise distribution opportunities.
“It’s interesting to watch what happened with Iberia which initially charged a surcharge for low fares in its home market but them pulled back and offered full content as well.â€
Durand said he thought Easyjet’s recent reduction of its point-of-sale fee, down to £3.30 per sector, was “ a step in the right directionâ€.
The Guild of Travel Management Companies, however, is still unhappy with the fee, with many of its members opting to book the airline through non-GDS channels.
Durand said Amadeus was talking to all low cost carriers about distribution, “even Ryanair†but admitted “we do not think they will be next on the listâ€.
By Dinah Hatch
