Amadeus has taken control of European airline-backed travel portal Opodo with a EUR62 million ($108.3 million) cash injection giving it 55.4 per cent stake.
The GDS said the shareholdings of Opodo’s nine existing airline owners would reduce in proportion to their current stake.
Opodo's major backers include Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa, each of which now owns 10.24 per cent of the portal.
Amadeus issued a statement saying its move was intended to strengthen its position in both the online and leisure travel arenas.
The GDS said the European online market was forecast to show an average annual growth rate of 39 per cent between 2002 and 2008, following the pattern of the US market where online sales today represented more than 30 per cent of air travel bookings .
It claimed Opodo had 18 per cent market share in online travel agency air bookings across the three markets in which it currently operates - France, Germany and UK. It reached its one millionth air booking in November 2003, averaging more than 10 million site visits per month.
Amadeus president and ceo Jose Antonio Tazon said the GDS would continue to focus and invest in the traditional and core distribution business, but it was equally committed to extending new business lines.
“We believe in the future of both traditional and new channels,” Tazon said, “and our strategy reflects our commitment to the success of our customers in each of them.”
Opodo launched its first site in Germany in November 2001, its UK site in January 2002 and its French site in April 2002.
Amadeus said the portal would remain as an independent entity.