Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry, has been selected by Air Algérie, Afriqiyah Airways, EgyptAir, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Libyan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sudan Airways, Syrian Arab Airlines, Tunisair and Yemen Airways - from the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) - as their exclusive distribution partner in their respective home markets. Following the signing, the 12 airlines will each establish 10-year distribution agreements with Amadeus, which will be effective on Jan. 1, 2009. These 12 leading airlines in the Middle East and North of Africa (MENA) account for 66 per cent of reservations made by travel agencies in the region. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, secretary general of Arab Air Carriers Organization, said: "This agreement crowns almost 18 months of intensive negotiations with leading Global Distribution Systems (GDSs). AACO's strategy is to achieve the best possible cost and value structure for the airline members partnering with a leading-edge technology provider who has a strong global presence. This is the fourth contract of its kind in the past 17 years but by far the largest in terms of the number of AACO airlines involved and it delivers greater value for the signing carriers.” “The selection of Amadeus by 12 of our member airlines is a recognition of the synergy that these airlines, in partnership with Amadeus, will bring to the travel agents in our part of the world. Amadeus solutions will equip our member airlines with excellent tools to bring customer-oriented distribution technology to the travel agents, who continue to be very important and long-term partners." David Jones, Amadeus' executive vice president, Commercial, said: “These agreements endorse our strategy to bring the most relevant airline content to travel agencies and also to provide the agents' desktops with the latest technology. Our infrastructure and continued investment in the region ensures delivering the best on site support." __
