Thomas Cook has selected German fares technology company Partners Software to develop a multi-source air fares booking engine and management system.
The deal is part of Thomas Cook’s multi-million pound ‘Project GLOBE’, a pan-European business model designed to a uniform production platform for all Thomas Cook tour operating brands.
At present, the company uses 11 different reservations systems but over the next three year these will be integrated into one system.
The technology is based on Partners Solutions’ LOW.FAREpremium system, which aggregates airfares from global distribution systems as well as net, consolidator, low-cost and web fares.
This will be supported by its FARE.ONE airfare management application, which will allow Thomas Cook to manage the deals it has negotiated with other airlines.
Partners Software’s technology will also be used for checking and reconciliating airfares ticketed via BSP.
The technology is expected to go live in the second half of 2007 with one unnamed Thomas Cook UK brand.
Thomas Cook chief information officer Reinhard Eschbach said: “Consumer booking behaviour is forcing tour operators to change and offer more flexible holiday arrangements.
“With the GLOBE project we are at the forefront of that change and with Partners Software’s technology we are able to handle the complex air products required in this new world”.
By Bev Fearis
