Amadeus, a provider of technology and distribution systems to the travel and tourism industry, has increased total half-year sales by 11 per cent to €1.5bn (£1bn).

The number of online air bookings handled by its global distribution systems (GDS) grew by 20 per cent and represents more than 17 per cent of all air bookings. It also handles 33 per cent of all travel agency air bookings.

‘Our travel agency partners booked €31.7bn (£21.5bn) in air tickets on Amadeus in the first half of 2007,’ said chief executive Jose Antonio Tazon. ‘Airlines generated €3.6bn (£2.4bn) through their own web sites using Amadeus technology.’

Amadeus provides IT systems such as customer management software (CMS) and e-ticketing systems to more than 200 airlines around the world.

The firm is continuing to expand its IT business, signing a 10-year agreement recently with Cathay Pacific, the first Asian airline to sign on for the full Amadeus Altea suite of customer management systems.

Amadeus also provides software to hotels, travel agents and leisure industries.