The leading Saudi Arabian, low-cost carrier also signed up to Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Travelport, a leading Travel Commerce Platform and Flynas, a leading low-cost carrier from Saudi Arabia, have today announced the signing of a multi-year, full content agreement. Launched in 2007, Flynas operates nearly 1,000 weekly flights to 30 destinations within and outside Saudi Arabia.
The new agreement will see Flynas’s full content and inventory, including its branded fares and ancillaries become available to over 68,000 travel agencies, across 180 countries through Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform. Furthermore, the airline now joins over 180 airlines which are currently live on Travelport’s merchandizing technology solution for airlines, Travelport Rich Content and Branding.
Through Travelport, the airline will be able to effectively promote Flynas’s products and services, including its dedicated Business Class Cabin, which has seen a significant investment from Flynas since 2013. Agents will also be able to access naSmiles, the frequent flyer program of Flynas, through which travellers can earn SMILE Points when booking flights and ancillaries. Also, Rich Content and Branding will enable the airline’s content to appear on travel agents’ screens, with rich, graphical product descriptions, boosting upselling opportunities for the travel agent community at the time of booking.
Paul Byrne, Chief Executive Officer at Flynas, commented: “This new agreement with Travelport will provide the platform for our business to further improve our customer service, expand our presence across the globe and grow our revenues. Travelport’s industry leading Travel Commerce Platform has impressive capabilities and we are pleased to have signed this partnership.”
Matthew Powell, Managing Director, Middle East and South Asia, Travelport said: “We are delighted that Flynas has seen the value in our innovative Travel Commerce Platform. Our platform enables travel providers and their evolving technologies to deliver the widest choice of relevant content for travel-buyers and consumers. This agreement will see this leading Saudi Arabian carrier utilizing our technology to increase its visibility and revenues worldwide. We are looking forward to supporting Flynas meeting its growth objectives and simultaneously enhancing Travelport’s presence in Saudi Arabia.”
Travelport Appoints John Smith as a Non-Executive Director to its Board of Directors
Travelport also announced the appointment of Mr John Smith to its Board of Directors. The appointment is effective from March 1, 2017.
Until recently, Mr. Smith was Chief Operating Officer of the Burberry Group – the company which makes and sells products under the Burberry brand. He remains a member of Burberry's Board. During his time with Burberry, amongst his many achievements, he has been credited with driving digital growth and optimising the potential of the Burberry beauty and travel businesses on a global basis. Mr Smith will step down from Burberry's Board by the summer of 2017.
Prior to Burberry, Mr Smith spent 23 years at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Joining in 1989, he held a variety of positions including Chief Operating Officer, Director of Finance, Property & Business Affairs and Finance Director. Mr Smith was appointed Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide in 2004, the commercial arm of the corporation whose media content is sold worldwide through a variety of digital channels. During his time in this role, which he held for eight years, he led a digital transformation of the division and increased profit four-fold. Mr. Smith has also previously served as a non-executive director of UK-listed companies Severn Trent PLC and Vickers PLC and was also a member of the UK Accounting Standards Board from 2001 to 2004.
Mr Smith will replace Mr Gavin Baiera from Angelo, Gordon & Co. who retires from the Board on March 1, 2017, having served as a member since 2011.
Commenting on the appointment, Douglas Steenland, Chairman of the Travelport Board of Directors, said: "I am delighted to welcome John Smith to our Board. John has led a number of global businesses and has an exceptional track record within finance, operations and embracing the new opportunities offered by the digital economy. We look forward to drawing on these skills as Travelport continues to redefine travel commerce and extends its digital capabilities across mobile, robotics, artificial intelligence, next generation payments and the consumer grade presentation and merchandising of travel content for its diverse range of clients. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Gavin Baiera who has played a significant role on our Board over the past five years in enabling Travelport to progress to become the sort of leading edge business it is today."
John Smith added: "This is a hugely exciting time to be joining the Travelport Board of Directors. Having developed digital strategies and platforms for international brands I can see where there is enormous further potential for this business based on the assets that have been acquired and built under the leadership of the CEO, Gordon Wilson. I am looking forward to providing my strategic contribution as part of the Board to help Travelport realize its further potential. Travelport benefits from a truly global customer base, as well as industry leading technology and content, which position it very well for where and how the travel economy is moving."
Travelport's Board of Directors consists of eight members, all of whom, with the exception of the President and CEO, Gordon Wilson, are independent directors.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
