Ryanair has announced plans to double the number of business passengers it currently has by selling through a global distribution system (GDS) for the first time in more than a decade.
The no-frills airline is partnering with the e-commerce travel provider Travelport GDS to make its fares available through its network starting next week.
The deal means Ryanair flights will now be available for booking via third party agents .
The move is one of in series of new measures by the airline to attract additional business travellers.
Travelport, which has a presence in 170 countries, is comprised of a global distribution system business, that includes the Galileo and Worldspan brands, its Airline IT Solutions business and a majority joint venture ownership in eNett.
"We're excited that Europe's largest low fares airline has selected Travelport as its partner and is fully embracing what we can uniquely offer through our industry-leading airline distribution technology," said the group's executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Kurt Ekert.
Ryanair chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said approximately 22 per cent of its customer base are business travellers, equivalent to about 19 million passengers. However, he said the airline is seeking to double the number of business passengers within two years, through initiatives such as the agreement with Travelport.
“This partnership with Travelport is a significant development for Ryanair and for businesses across Europe and beyond as we continue to evolve our business offering,” said Mr Jacobs.
