FlySafair explores GDS option

FLYSAFAIR is weighing up
its options as it plans to
focus on strengthening
its partnerships with travel
agents and corporate
travellers, says new ceo,
Elmar Conradie.
“We have always said
that when we approach the
trade, we must approach
them with a complete
network and travel agent
portal on our website,”
Elmar told TNW on the side
lines of a recent media
briefing.
With the introduction of
its Durban and East London
routes, which launch on
October 25, the airline’s
network is a lot stronger,
says Elmar. The next step
is to move on to the GDS,
an option the airline is
considering in order to work
closely with travel agents.
“Our focus has been to
drive traffic to our website
because it is the cheapest
way for us to distribute. This
option is purely to give the
travel agent the convenience
of booking on the GDS. But
unfortunately, if we do go
this route, ticket prices will
be more expensive because
we have to cover the GDS
cost,” Elmar says.
Agents will still be able to
book cheaper tickets on the
airline’s website, he adds.
“Our price is our price and
we cannot cut it any further
in order to accommodate
commissions, but travel
agents are welcome to mark
it up, and we can facilitate
this through our travel agent
portal.”
Elmar admits that the
airline’s current travel agent
portal needs some work.
“We are spending a bit of
money to sort out all of the
problems,” he says. The
airline currently distributes
through OTAs Travelstart
and FlightSite. “We are
now working on ensuring
that travel agents can log
in to our website, make a
booking on account, get
their own invoices and
accounts, etc.”
The corporate travel
market is also on FlySafair’s
agenda. “Up until now, our
focus has been leisure
because we didn’t have the
right route network. There
was no point in going after
a corporate knowing he
would want to fly to Durban
and you can’t offer him
that.” The airline will launch
a business product catering
specifically for the corporate
market before the end of
the year, offering business
travellers flexible ticket
options.