Galileo revealed some details of an
optional program for U.S. agencies that gives them protection from
airline service fees in exchange for certain financial terms.
Galileo didnt
detail the terms in a press statement, but they presumably involve
financial concessions.
Like Sabres EAS,
Galileos Content Continuity Program optional programs for U.S. 
agencies provides
protection against service fees, and reduces participating airlines
distribution costs.
Galileo said the
Content Continuity Program, which would begin Sept. 1, assures
agents of full content, meaning all publicly available fares,
including Web fares, and access to negotiated fares in the manner
equal to or better than any other GDS system.
Galileo said it
decided to implement an optional program even though it has
consistently stated that cost-shifting to agencies is not in the
best interests of the travel industry.
Galileo, meanwhile,
signed a five-year full-content agreement with Northwest, making
Galileo the first traditional GDS to have inventory from all six
network carriers locked up. G2 SwitchWorks has long-term deals with
the six network carriers, along with AirTran, Alaska and
JetBlue.
To
contact reporter Dennis Schaal, send e-mail to [email protected].