Travelport completed its $1.4 billion
acquisition of Worldspan after antitrust regulators in the European
Union approved the deal last week, about a month earlier than
expected.
The U.S. Federal
Trade Commission gave the Travelport-Worldspan deal its nod in
July.
Travelport, which
already owned the Galileo and Apollo GDSs, will control the largest
share of the GDS market in the U.S. and the second-largest piece of
the pie in Europe.
Travelport said
last week that the acquisition would create one of the largest
network of travel brands, content and service providers in the
world. In addition to Galileo, Travelport is the parent of Orbitz
Worldwide and Gullivers Travel Associates.
In a statement,
Travelport CEO Jeff Clarke said that the company would "be working
on enhancements and operational efficiencies, including systems
integrity, fare accuracy and ease-of-use that capitalize on the GDS
knowledge and experience of Galileo and Worldspan."
Travelport, which
now provides travel distribution services to 750 travel suppliers,
63,000 travel agencies and consumers worldwide, is owned by New
York-based private equity firm The Blackstone Group, Technology
Crossover Ventures of California and One Equity Partners of New
York.
Travelport reported
$2.6 billion in revenue last year and employs about 6,000
people.
To
contact reporter Dan Luzadder, send e-mail to [email protected].