AirPlus International Reports Successful 2004 Growth

14 Percent Charge Volume Increase, Total Cards In Market Up 4 Percent

AirPlus International, a leading travel payment solutions provider, today reports a 14 percent volume increase in 2004, a $12.9 billion record high for the company. AirPlus also saw a 4 percent increase in total cards in the global market, bringing the number of cards processed to 850,000. Operating in 26 countries, AirPlus reports a total of 29,000 corporate clients for 2004. With offices and key partners around the world, the company has a global advantage in offering corporate customers tailor-made multinational solutions.

“The ability to customize the AirPlus suite of corporate travel payment tools on a multi-national scale is a leading factor in the company’s continued success,” said Richard Crum, president and CEO, AirPlus International, Inc. “With AirPlus’ tailor-made travel payment solutions, management information tools and billing structure, corporate customers have a maximum degree of expense transparency as well as cost management accuracy, saving them time and money.” 

AirPlus also attributes its 2004 success to its expanding partner network.  The company’s airline partner network grew in late 2004 with the addition of Northwest Airlines. Partnerships with SAP and ORACLE are being enhanced as AirPlus continues to develop the options available to its corporate clients through the technical integration of corporate travel statements into financial accounting and controlling structures.  Additionally, the MS-certified accounting software Navision will be adapted to meet the individual requirements of AirPlus corporate customers.  

“We are well-positioned to attain our long-term objective to become the market leader in Europe by 2008,” said AirPlus International Managing Director Patrick W Diemer. “With these results, it is clear that growth in the international markets will continue in the coming year as we plan to increase our presence in Eastern European countries and in Asia.“

AirPlus International is a global leader in business travel payment solutions, offering central payment accounts, corporate cards and online management information tools. AirPlus is the preferred payment partner of Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ: NWAC), British Airways (NYSE:BAB), Lufthansa German Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and TAP Portugal. AirPlus is the world’s largest issuer of UATP.