Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry, won the prestigious “Aviation Technology Provider of the Year” Award at the 2nd Aviation Business Awards Middle East 2008 ceremony held in Abu Dhabi. Amadeus was chosen as the clear winner among other global industry players for its demonstrated commitment in helping airlines, airports and travel agencies increase their efficiencies and effectiveness with its technology solutions. The award highlights Amadeus' continued service to the travel industry through its ongoing innovation and investment in technology solutions for the travel and tourism sector. “Winning this award is an honor for us and confirms Amadeus' position as the technology partner of choice for the travel industry in the Middle East”, said Fernando Cuesta, executive director for Amadeus, Middle East and Africa. “Our team has worked very hard to deliver leading-edge technology, services and extensive travel content to help our customers manage their businesses more efficiently. Being recognized as the “Aviation Technology Provider of the Year” reflects our commitment to delivering innovative end-to-end solutions to the industry. We owe this award to our partners and customers who have supported us and acknowledged our efforts.” At the awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Youssef, head of Special Projects, Amadeus, collected the award on behalf of Amadeus. Some of the achievements that Amadeus received credit for include its recent deal with the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), wherein Amadeus entered into a 10-year exclusive distribution agreements with 13 leading airlines from the AACO. The 13 airlines - Air Algérie, Afriqiyah Airways, EgyptAir, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Libyan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sudan Airways, Syrian Arab Airlines, Tunisair Yemen Airways and Royal Air Maroc, account for 68 per cent of reservations made by travel agencies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Recently, Amadeus also launched a revolutionary platform that combines the best of both the direct and indirect airline distribution channels, allowing airlines to act more like retailers when selling through the GDS. Developed in collaboration with major carriers across the globe, the Airline Retailing Platform combines the traditional strengths of the GDS - global reach and higher sales - with the efficiency, target marketing and brand differentiation opportunities offered by the airlines' online sales channels. __
