Expedia, AirKiosk System Link

February 23, 2009

Cheap fares from Rome, with Blu-express on Expedia.it

Flights of Blu-Express.com, the low-cost brand of Blue Panorama Airlines, are now available for sale through Expedia using an AirXML Service link between the popular travel booking site and the AirKiosk Internet Reservations System.

Blue Panorama Airlines organized the connection project, marking another milestone in its innovation of low-cost distribution strategies.

“We are very pleased with the launch of our AirKiosk AirXML link to Expedia,” said George Michalopoulos, Commercial Director of Blu-Express.com. “The AirXML API, which has become a cornerstone of our distribution strategy, once again has proven highly reliable and easy for customers to link to.”

Expedia developers took advantage of the full suite of AirXML API transactions – from realtime fares availability to direct electronic ticketing – to build the link, a process completed within 30 days.

The Expedia link to Blu-Express.com flights is direct, involving no third-party databases or systems.

“The savings for airlines here is remarkable,” said Novak Niketic, President of AirKiosk System and AirXML Service provider Sutra, Inc. “When an airline’s link to a travel site does not go through GDS processing, at least nine dollars per roundtrip ticket is eliminated,” he said.

Even more important, Niketic noted, is that airlines do not need to dedicate scarce resources to keeping intermediate systems such as OAG and ATPCO synchronized with daily fare changes driven by revenue management in the AirKiosk System.

Blue Panorama, Italy’s second largest long-haul carrier, launched the Blu-Express.com brand in November 2005 with the AirKiosk System as its solution for inventory, distribution and revenue management. Blu-express.com is the only low-cost airline based at Rome’s Fiumicino airport.

The AirXML Service has become a major factor in travel distribution since its introduction in September 2006, directly connecting travel agency, corporate and special-interest websites with the realtime fares display and booking of airlines using the AirKiosk System.

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Sources: Sutra, Inc. and Blue Panorama Airlines S.p.A.