New Mars System Enables Tour Operators
To Packge Flights From Budget Carriers
Tour operators can now use a wide range of budget flights to create real dynamic
packages on-line, thanks to a new system from Mach Associates.
The latest version of the MARS reservations system enables operators to dynamically
package flights from any budget airline with transfers and accommodation, thus keeping
costs down and offering customers a wider choice of regional departures.
Said Mach Associates Sales Director Richard Bristow: “This is the missing link that
brings power back to the tour operator because he is no longer dependent on flight
allocations from scheduled or charter carriers with their typical 7day flight patterns.
We believe it will open up the package market to new companies of the type who have
always driven growth in our industry”.
The unique aspect of the latest MARS system is that it will only display those flights
– from any airline – for which the tour operator has airport transfers, whether
the booking is being made by an agent, or direct
This has already enabled initial customer Skiweekends.com to move from being a coach-only
operator to offering air packages for the first time.
MARS is the first system to offer this function which means that the operator can
allow agents or direct customers to book any hotel, duration and flight option safe
in the knowledge that he has the ground handling in place. He can even offer “1p”
flights – the system displays the cheapest flights first - and pass on the cost
savings.
Added Richard Bristow: “It solves the problem of traditional carriers becoming increasingly
reluctant to offer allocations because it is more profitable for them to sell the
seats at the last minute. MARS constructs the package and controls the components
where margin is applied. Allowing the operator to include low cost airlines as integral
parts of a package allows them to offer competitive priced products on which Agents
can make commission without the effort and uncertainty of having creating their
own packages.
By using the MARS system the operator can also control the mark-up for each package
depending on factors such as the length of the transfer or hotel rate.
The system has already enabled ski short break specialist Skiweekends.com to expand
from being a south east England coach-based company into an air package operators
with regional departures around the country.
Said Skiweekends.com Managing Director Brendan Jones: “We realised
that none of the older legacy reservation systems had this sort of flexibility so
we asked Mach Associates if they could develop a system that would give the power
to offer a wide range of budget flights – whilst managing all transfers to ensure
that every in-coming flight was matched to a resort transfer.
“We are delighted with the result which has already changed the way we sell our
product and allowed us to expand into new areas of sales”
Mach Associates says that dynamic packaging has been seen as the enemy by traditional
tour operators, often with vertically integrated charter airlines. They are locked
into seven or 14-day turnarounds and large expensive legacy reservations systems
that don’t have the ability to offer more flexible flight options.
The latest version of MARS is the reservation system to break this mould at a cost
that small companies can afford. Mach Associates believes that, MARS allows tour
operators of all sizes to offer much more innovative packages to a wider range of
destinations.