Ryanair on March 19 will return to the global distribution channel following a new deal announced with Travelport.
A "phased approach" will see the low-fare airline list its fares as well as "extensive ancillary products and services," according to a joint statement.
Ryanair will use Travelport's "aggregated shopping functionality" and will work toward using the distributor's Rich Content and Branding product, which enables airlines to better control on travel agency booking screens how content is presented and described.
Delta, EasyJet, British Airways and Iberia also have signed up to use that technology.
Ryanair in January signaled its intention to rejoin the GDS channel after not participating for more than a decade. At that time, new head of groups and corporate travel Lesley Kane said that the airline "might" pass along GDS costs to corporate agencies, according to a report in The Beat, a sister publication to Travel Weekly.
Ryanair claimed that about 22% of its annual passengers — estimated to reach about 81.5 million this year — are business travelers, a percentage expected to grow as distribution via Travelport provides greater access for travel management companies and corporate travel departments.
Source: Business Travel News