Gaining ground in Asia: Connexus Travel signs deal with Aeronology to boost growth

Hong Kong-based Connexus Travel (formally known as Swire Travel), one of the largest corporate travel businesses in Greater China, has signed a long-term technology sharing agreement with the newly-created Australian travel technology company, Aeronology.

Based in Melbourne, Aeronology is founded by Ahmed Fakhra and headed by Russell Carstensen. The agreement covers the use of all distribution technology applications that it provides the travel industry, including AeroTickets.

According to Gloria Slethaug, CEO of Connexus, the company focuses on new technologies covering internal work efficiencies with robotic and integrated content for online transactions, New Distribution Capability (NDC) and travel industry API content. “Asia is changing rapidly, the volume of transactions in the Asian market is growing year-on-year while the costs are on the rise and the old manual processes will not keep up with this demand,” said Slethaug.

“Need cloud based transactional technology.”

“Legacy technology abounds in this market and Connexus needed to break out and start an evolution. Margins are reducing, costs are rising and our suppliers and customers are now demanding connectivity that matches their needs and business direction. We are absolutely happy to be part of that change,” the CEO added.

“The growth expected in Asia doesn’t match the operational reality – there are very few businesses that can match that growth organically. You do need cloud based transactional technology, robotic and online services to help our travel agents within Connexus, and externally, to match that growth with productivity improvements. That’s why we have partnered with Aeronology.”

“North Asia focus.”

Carstensen said: “Asia was always going to be our focus for 2020, especially North Asia, and with our recent decision to be multilingual, starting with traditional and simplified Chinese, it was a natural connection to work with Connexus Travel. It has one of the best reputations in Asia, and it’s our pleasure to be their technology partner.”

Connexus has provided Aeronology a gateway and catchment area of a population of over 7.5 billion people in Greater China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Connexus has offices in key markets, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei and Hsinchu City. “Even in this current difficult climate my senior executive team and I felt it was the right time to start the long-term evolution of our business – we are playing the long game,” Slethaug said.