Project Brief
AACO, as part of its mission and objectives, has succeeded since the 1990s in providing the platform for member airlines to cooperate individually with global distribution systems in order to distribute their content and expand their sales presence worldwide.
In 2013, AACO Future Distribution Strategies Task Force (FDSTF) was established with the purpose of achieving the following two objectives:
1. To study and research the latest technological developments related to distribution techniques that meet the consumer needs at all touch points, and provide optimal exposure and reach of member airlines products.
2. To define a comprehensive vision to deal with the distribution landscape beyond the year 2018.
The FDSTF completed its tasks successfully by achieving the above two objectives. Hence, and after concluding the framework between Amadeus and 16 airlines, the FDSTF was closed and transformed into a Steering Board called AACO Amadeus Steering Board (AASB). The AASB includes representatives from the 16 airlines, Amadeus and AACO, and has started following up on the deal as of January 1, 2019. The Board will hold periodic meetings to review the performance of this agreement in order to insure its effectiveness for the member airlines.
The previous framework that managed the 10-year relationship between Amadeus and 13-member airlines has expired by end of 2018. That framework allowed those airlines to benefit from the intensive presence of Amadeus in their home markets and in return, the National Marketing Company (NMC) in each home market of the member airlines caters for the market needs while bringing customer-oriented distribution technology to the travel agents.
The new framework, in addition to the above benefits, supports the participant airlines’ vision for distribution and reconfirms commitments to the travel agency and will drive economies of scale and technological efficiencies, including enhanced merchandising and retailing capabilities. Moreover, this framework remains open for additional member airlines that wish to join in the future.
Project Benefits
High market share, strong market presence, rationalized distribution cost, innovative functionalities, wider network coverage, and better customer service
Members
Afriqiyah Airways, Air Algerie, Air Cairo, Badr Airlines, EgyptAir, Etihad Airways, Jordan Aviation, Kuwait Airways, Libyan Airlines, Mauritania Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Nile Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Saudia and TunisAir.