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WestJet inks multi-year deal with Amadeus
Safe, efficient travel. Expanded international reach. Vital partnerships. These are just a few of the critical ingredients needed for an airline to successfully grow and deliver a world-class passenger experience. Canadian air carrier, WestJet, is doing just that, bolstered by a new multi-year agreement with Amadeus for worldwide distribution including ancillary services.
July 12, 2017 By Amadeus
Under the new agreement, subscribers worldwide have continued access via the Amadeus global distribution system to WestJet’s broad range of content. The agreement also continues to provide access and booking of the carrier’s ancillary offerings including options such as seat selection, baggage and priority boarding.
“As WestJet evolves as a global carrier, our new agreement with Amadeus will enable us to grow and deliver on the needs of travelers and travel professionals wherever they are located,” said Ed Sims, WestJet executive vice-president, commercial.
The agreement is important as WestJet recently announced plans to serve more international destinations and continues to secure interline agreements with other carriers to expand its footprint. WestJet began wide-body service in May 2016 and just recently announced the purchase of up to 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. In just over 20 years the airline has grown from five destinations within Canada to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe.
“WestJet believes in the value of a multi-channel strategy where travel agents and travelers can count on having access to the broadest range of their content and services. This new distribution agreement means WestJet can continue to deliver consistency, transparency and choice to travelers via the world’s largest travel network,” said Scott Alvis, Chief Marketing Officer, Amadeus North America.
The partnership framework will enable WestJet to take full advantage of emerging technologies, according to Ilia Kostov, Chief Commercial Officer Airlines, Amadeus North America.
“Amadeus’ technology platform and approach to connectivity options ensures the optimal delivery of content and services. Helping travel agents and travelers to connect efficiently with airline content benefits all parties in the travel ecosystem,” said Kostov.
WestJet also recently evolved its merchandising approach using Amadeus’ ancillary technologies. Last year the airline implemented Amadeus Airline Ancillary Services which enables travel agents to book add-on services, as well as Amadeus Airline Fare Families, thereby making its Econo, Flex, Plus Lowest and Plus Flexible bundled fare options available. This enables travel professionals to best serve their customers by proposing the WestJet fares and options that best match traveler preferences.
