Cendant Travel Distribution Services (TDS) has signed an agreement with Air France to secure access to all the carrier's fares until December, 2008. (3/31/2006)

With immediate effect, this agreement ensures that Galileo connected travel agencies worldwide will have full access to all available Air France fares, including their lowest classes and web fares, directly through the Galileo system.

Henri Hourcade, vice-president distribution and e-commerce, Air France said: The agency distribution channel continues to play a pivotal role in our overall strategy and our agreement with Galileo International enables us to continue to serve this channel with the highest level of content, while at the same time allowing us to achieve our business goals?

The global fare parity with all direct sales channels will mean that Galileo-connected travel agents can be confident that the fares they offer their customers are the very best at a time when they are under increasing competitive pressure from the online channel, stated Cendant.

Another key element of the agreement is the product enhancements to the Galileo system due to be implemented towards the end of the year. These will allow Galileo to offer a broad range of solutions globally that will be of mutual benefit to the travel agency community, Air France and Galileo.This new agreement is further evidence of Cendant TDS's ongoing worldwide strategy to create a sustainable distribution model that benefits airlines and travel agencies; Airlines get wider distribution channels and travel agencies gain access to the best content in the most effective channel,?added the release.