Bangkok--7 Sep--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Northwest Airlines today announced that it will launch a new version of its popular WorldAgent Direct Web site for travel agents in Asia. The site will offer an all-new Internet booking engine which will provide functions and benefits to travel agencies while lowering the airline’s distribution costs as it expands access to more travel agency locations.
“We hope our incentives and features will encourage travel agencies across Asia to use WorldAgent Direct,” said James Mueller, Managing Director Asia. WorldAgent Direct is free and offers unrestricted access to Northwest’s fares, travel tools and online booking capabilities, all designed for travel professionals. The site is currently available in China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand with launch in other Asia countries later this year.
The web site ( www.agents.nwa.com/asia ), builds on the successful program used by agents in the U.S. since 2002. WorldAgent Direct will offer travel agents a variety of features including:
Easy navigation and full-service functionality. Through WorldAgent Direct, accredited travel agencies in markets Northwest serves in Asia will have the ability to perform easy bookings of itineraries on published, net and Web fares involving flights operated by Northwest Airlines, and most of Northwest’s code-share partners. In addition, travel agents will be able to use Northwest’s promotional offers, view seat maps and request seats, monitor flight information and check-in customers for their flights.
Easy one-stop registration and access. Following a quick one-time registration, WorldAgent Direct provides travel agents with one-stop access to the latest Northwest products and services including the new booking engine. As an additional service, travel agency owner/managers will have the ability to manage their employees’ access to the WorldAgent Direct agency website as well as the online booking engine.
Easy reporting. Through the innovative links between WorldAgent Direct and IATA, BSP and TIDS agencies will have access to sales reports, making it easier for Internet sales activity to be tracked and managed.
Northwest Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,400 daily departures. Northwest is a member of SkyTeam, an airline alliance that offers customers one of the world’s most extensive global networks. Northwest and its travel partners serve more than 900 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents.
For more information pertaining to Northwest, media inquiries can be directed to Sribenja or Satida at (66) 02 252-9871 or to Northwest’s Web site at www.nwa.com .