Corporate history of Amadeus IT Group, a Spanish technology company specializing in travel and tourism IT solutions, from its founding in 1987 to its current status as a global leader on the BME stock exchange.
Chronological Storyline (41 Milestones)
Jun 1, 1987 CE
Amadeus Founded
Four major European airlines—Air France, Iberia, Lufthansa, and SAS—found Amadeus as a joint venture to create a global distribution system (GDS). #business #travel
Amadeus Founded By Luis García (Zaqarbal) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 es, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31839648
1990 CE
Amadeus GDS Launches
Amadeus launches its global distribution system, revolutionizing travel booking with real-time access to airline schedules, fares, and availability. #technology #travel
1994 CE
First Profit Achieved
Amadeus reports its first annual profit, driven by rapid adoption of its GDS by travel agencies across Europe. #business
Apr 29, 1999 CE
IPO on Madrid Stock Exchange
Amadeus goes public on the Madrid Stock Exchange (BME), trading under ticker AMS. The IPO raises €1.3 billion. #finance
2000 CE
Acquisition of Vacations.com
Amadeus acquires Vacations.com, a leading online travel marketplace, expanding into the leisure travel segment. #acquisition
Sep 1, 2001 CE
September 11 Impact
The 9/11 attacks severely impact global travel, causing a sharp decline in Amadeus’s transaction volumes. The company implements cost-cutting measures. #crisis
2003 CE
Acquisition of E-Travel (Proxicom)
Amadeus acquires E-Travel, a corporate travel management firm from Proxicom, expanding its corporate travel solutions. #acquisition
2003 CE
Launch of Amadeus e-Travel Management
Amadeus launches an online corporate travel booking tool, targeting the business travel market. #technology
2004 CE
Acquisition of System One
Amadeus acquires System One, a US-based GDS, strengthening its presence in the Americas. #acquisition
Jun 1, 2005 CE
Merger with Opodo
Amadeus merges with Opodo, an online travel agency, to create a leading European OTA. #acquisition
2005 CE
Launch of Amadeus Fare Families
Amadeus introduces Fare Families, allowing airlines to sell bundles of fares with ancillary services through the GDS. #technology
2006 CE
Acquisition of Hotel Booking Solutions
Amadeus acquires Hotel Booking Solutions (HBS), enhancing its hotel distribution and technology capabilities. #acquisition
2007 CE
Launch of Amadeus Airline IT Solutions
Amadeus launches a suite of IT solutions for airlines, including departure control and revenue management systems. #technology
2007 CE
Acquisition of GDS Operations from Air France
Amadeus acquires the remaining stake in its GDS operations from Air France, becoming fully independent from its founding airlines. #acquisition
Oct 1, 2008 CE
Acquisition of Travelocity's GDS Business
Amadeus acquires Travelocity’s GDS business for $15 million, strengthening its position in the North American market. #acquisition
2008 CE
Financial Crisis Impact
The global financial crisis reduces travel demand, but Amadeus maintains profitability through cost control and diversified revenue streams. #crisis
Jun 6, 2009 CE
Appointment of Luis Maroto as CEO
Luis Maroto is appointed CEO, succeeding José Antonio Tazón. Maroto leads the company through a period of significant growth and digital transformation. #leadership
Apr 29, 2010 CE
Secondary Listing on NYSE
Amadeus lists its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) via American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), marking its expansion into US capital markets. #finance
2010 CE
Launch of Amadeus Ancillary Services Platform
Amadeus launches a platform for airlines to sell ancillary services like seat selection and baggage through travel agencies. #technology
2011 CE
Acquisition of Microsoft’s Navitaire
Amadeus acquires Navitaire, a low-cost carrier revenue management platform, from Microsoft for $830 million. #acquisition
2012 CE
Acquisition of Itsonline
Amadeus acquires Itsonline, a Spanish developer of airport passenger processing solutions. #acquisition
2012 CE
Launch of Amadeus Cloud Services
Amadeus launches cloud-based solutions for travel agencies and airlines, moving its IT infrastructure to the cloud. #technology
Jun 1, 2013 CE
Acquisition of i:FAO Group
Amadeus acquires i:FAO Group, a German provider of tourism software, to strengthen its mid-office and back-office solutions. #acquisition
Jan 1, 2014 CE
Acquisition of Newmarket International
Amadeus acquires Newmarket International, a provider of hotel sales and event management software, for $500 million. #acquisition
2014 CE
Launch of Amadeus Altéa Revenue Management
Amadeus launches the Altéa Revenue Management suite for airlines, using advanced analytics for pricing optimization. #technology
Sep 1, 2015 CE
Acquisition of TravelClick
Amadeus acquires TravelClick, a provider of hotel revenue management and distribution solutions, for $1.5 billion. #acquisition
Apr 1, 2016 CE
Launch of Amadeus Crowd 2.0
Amadeus launches Crowd 2.0, a crowd simulation tool for airport planners to optimize terminal design. #technology
2016 CE
Amadeus Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index
Amadeus is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the first time, recognizing its corporate social responsibility efforts. #sustainability
May 1, 2017 CE
Launch of Amadeus NDC Platform
Amadeus launches a New Distribution Capability (NDC) platform, enabling airlines to offer personalized content through third-party channels. #technology
Feb 1, 2018 CE
Acquisition of ICM Airport Technologies
Amadeus acquires ICM Airport Technologies, a provider of airport self-service solutions, expanding its airport IT portfolio. #acquisition
Jun 1, 2018 CE
Acquisition of AirportLabs
Amadeus acquires AirportLabs, a technology startup specializing in airport operational efficiency. #acquisition
Jul 1, 2019 CE
Launch of Amadeus X (Digital Identity)
Amadeus introduces Amadeus X, a digital identity system for travelers using biometric technology, piloted at airports. #technology
Nov 1, 2019 CE
Launch of Amadeus Travel4Life
Amadeus launches Travel4Life, a platform promoting sustainable travel choices among its corporate clients. #sustainability
Mar 1, 2020 CE
COVID-19 Pandemic Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic causes a 70% drop in travel bookings. Amadeus implements cost reductions and raises €2.8 billion in debt to maintain liquidity. #crisis
Jun 1, 2021 CE
Acquisition of Vision-Box
Amadeus acquires Vision-Box, a biometrics and identity management company, for €300 million to enhance airport security solutions. #acquisition
Dec 1, 2021 CE
Acquisition of Kambr
Amadeus acquires Kambr, a revenue management startup for aviation, to enhance its data analytics capabilities. #acquisition
Jan 1, 2022 CE
Launch of Amadeus Travel Ready
Amadeus launches Travel Ready, a digital health verification platform to manage COVID-19 test results and vaccination certificates. #technology
Mar 1, 2023 CE
Launch of Amadeus Airline Data Studio
Amadeus launches a data analytics platform for airlines to leverage real-time data for operational decision-making. #technology
May 1, 2023 CE
Appointment of Daniel Batlle as CEO
Daniel Batlle succeeds Luis Maroto as CEO of Amadeus, focusing on innovation and sustainability in travel technology. #leadership
Jul 1, 2024 CE
Amadeus Surpasses 500 Million Passengers Processed
Amadeus announces that over 500 million passengers were processed through its Altéa system in 2023, highlighting its scale. #business
Oct 1, 2024 CE
Amadeus Joins IBEX 35 Index
Amadeus is included in the IBEX 35 index of the Madrid Stock Exchange, reflecting its status as one of Spain's largest publicly traded companies. #finance