E-commerce contract awarded

British Airways has today announced the appointment of TRX Europe to handle the fulfilment of bookings for the direct version of their new on-line business travel management system for small to medium sized companies.

The airline has developed two systems - one in conjunction with travel agents and one for small to medium sized businesses who choose to book direct.

For those companies, who choose the direct system, TRX will handle the servicing of the bookings, including the issuing and despatch of all tickets direct to the customers. It will also offer off-line customer service support and an off-line booking service for itineraries that the customer is not confident to make on-line.

Travel agents, who sign up for the new system for their small to medium sized business customers will fulfil their own customers’ bookings. The new system gives agents the opportunity to avoid the excessive costs of investing in new systems, whilst providing a low cost travel management service for their customers.

TRX Europe is a division of the newly formed TRX Ltd - a joint venture between Hogg Robinson and TRX inc. of the United States. Their appointment followed a tender process.

The new system links directly to all the facilities offered by Computer Reservations Systems, including hotels, car hire and other airlines. The "private access website", which can be personalised with corporate travel policy and travellers’ preferences, will also produce management information.

The move follows the announcement in April this year that leading US internet travel systems supplier, GetThere.com will provide the booking engine for the system.

Simon Parks-Smith, British Airways’ Head of Business to Business e-Commerce, said: "This is the first time we have awarded an on-line fulfilment contract and we are confident that TRX’s experience in this field will ensure that they can deliver a consistently high level of customer service."

Bill Brindle, Managing Director TRX Europe, said: "We are delighted to be chosen by British Airways to supply this service to their new and innovative e-commerce venture. We believe that it demonstrates our market leading position in on-line fulfilment services."