Blenheim based carrier Sounds Air has signed with Amadeus to make its content available to travel sellers across the world through the Amadeus Travel Platform. Sounds Air is hosted by the Takeflite Solutions passenger service system and this development is a result of a new partnership between Amadeus and Takeflite that provides enhanced global distribution options to regional airlines. 

Employers will increasingly require assistance when it comes to travel arrangements over the next 12 months, one positive sign for corporate travel agents identified by recent research.

Rebuilding Business Travel – Insights from global TMC leaders on the business travel industry outlook and recovery strategies for 2022, the latest report from Amadeus, explores the opportunities, challenges, and growth strategies that will shape the future of business travel. 

The annual global Amadeus Travel Trends research points to active eco-tourism and ‘friendcations’ plus the digital transformation of business travel, as things to watch for as travel comes back on the agenda.

At the same time, interesting new search and flight locations are emerging - from flight searches up by one third to Tanzania, to flights doubling to cities close to Machu Picchu.

Travellers want to get moving again, but their enthusiasm is being dampened by confusion around international requirements, according to a just released survey commissioned by Amadeus.

The survey of 9,074 consumers across France, Germany, India, Spain, Russia, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the US shows the appetite to travel is high. It indicates 77% of travellers globally want to travel in the next year, with 50% of expecting to take a flight for business later this year.

‘Refund uncertainty’ is having a major impact on traveller’s confidence and bookings in 2021, according to a recent study by Amadeus.

The survey of 5000 travellers across the world shows that 81% of respondents feel the increased risk of cancellations due to the pandemic is a barrier to booking travel this year, with refund uncertainty (46%) and the inconvenience of the refund process (38%) topping concerns when a flight is cancelled.

Airline apps are among the key drivers in the digitisation of travel and need to be designed to allow for a seamless and frictionless customer experience, says Lance Batty, regional director, South Pacific at Amadeus.

‘The more that customers are able to do on their own device, the less physical contact is required in shared spaces – something which many customers will be averse to after at least a year of concern about virus transmission vectors and avoiding public spaces,’ he says.

Survival remains the imminent challenge for business travel agencies right now, according to a report just released by Amadeus late 2020.

However the Reboot. Recharge. Rethink Business Travel research also shows the ‘most voted’ business travel evolution in APAC was a predicted shift from unmanaged to managed travel. This is obviously a trend that will benefit travel management companies.

Travel sellers and providers will need to get creative with deals and packages to provide the experience domestic tourists are seeking, says Amadeus following the results of a recent survey by the company.

‘Customised leisure travel experiences win out over pre-packaged leisure travel options, with 54% of Australian and New Zealand travellers preferring to curate their own holidays with or

Five new mentor-mentee partnerships were introduced at TIME’s second intake this week as the organisation gains momentum on this side of the Tasman.