European regulator approves Amadeus $830-mn acquisition of Navitaire

The European regulator yesterday unconditionally approved the $830-million proposed acquisition of US travel software company Navitaire by Spain's Amadeus.

The European Commission (EC) said that deal will not hinder Amadeus rivals in the airline bookings market.

"The companies' IT solutions target different types of airlines and are complementary," the EC said in a statement.

In July, Amadeus offered to buy technology and business solutions provider to the airline industry Navitaire from Accenture Plc, for $830 million in order to focus on digital services for airline passengers. (See: Spain's Amadeus to buy Accenture's Navitaire for $830 mn)

Navitaire, which focuses on the low-cost and hybrid-carrier segments of the airline industry and has a global customer base of more than 50 operators, provides revenue-generation and cost-streamlining solutions in the areas of reservations, ancillary sales, loyalty, revenue management, revenue accounting and business intelligence.

Amadeus, based in Spain, offers IT solutions to airlines and travel agencies worldwide. It offers Global Distribution System, a different IT tool used by travel agencies to obtain information and make bookings with airlines and internal IT solutions for airlines and airports, such as Passenger Service Systems, an IT tool used by airlines to internally manage reservations, inventory and departure control.