Amadeus

What Amadeus does

Amadeus IT Group, S.A. is a Spain-based global travel technology company founded in 1987 and listed on Spain's Ibex 35 stock exchange, where it is the largest technology constituent. It operates the world's leading travel distribution and reservation system, providing a comprehensive platform-plus-modules architecture built around the Amadeus Travel Platform. The platform enables airline retailing, real-time booking and reservations, payment integration through the Outpayce subsidiary, biometric passenger processing via the Vision-Box corridor technology, and conversational and agentic AI capabilities delivered through the SkyLink acquisition.

The company's revenue is generated primarily through transaction fees on travel bookings processed via its global distribution system and reservation technology, supplemented by recurring subscription and licensing fees for technology platform access, API connectivity, and AI solutions sold to airlines, airports, travel management companies, and hospitality chains. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales, system-integrator partnerships (e.g., TCS), and channel partners across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Amadeus serves four primary customer segments — airlines, airports, travel management companies, and hotels/hospitality — with named deployments spanning flyadeal (Saudi Arabia), Radisson Hotel Group, Bin Ham Travel Group (UAE), and government-led airport modernization programs in Indonesia. Active strategic moves in 2024–2026 include the €320 million acquisition of Vision-Box (April 2024), the opening of a regional headquarters in Riyadh (November 2025), the SkyLink AI acquisition (February 2026), and ongoing negotiations to acquire Idemia Public Security for an estimated €2–3 billion, signaling a deepening pivot toward AI- and biometrics-led travel infrastructure.

Name

Amadeus

Legal name

Amadeus IT Group, S.A.

Website

https://amadeusfood.co.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Amadeus IT Group is a Spain-headquartered, Ibex 35-listed travel technology company operating the world's leading global distribution and reservation platform for airlines, airports, travel management companies, and hotels. It monetizes via transaction fees, platform licensing, and its Outpayce payment subsidiary, with AI and biometrics modules.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Technology Platforms

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Travel & Expense Booking Platforms (BPAMAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

B2B Travel Credit, Invoice & Settlement Solutions (THALAHAD)

Keywords

• Travel distribution systems
• Airline reservation technology
• Airport biometric solutions
• Travel payment processing
• Hospitality distribution platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Travel Distribution and Reservation Systems: Amadeus operates as the world's leading travel distribution and reservation system provider, facilitating reservations across airlines, hotels, and various travel and service sectors. Revenue is generated through transaction fees and commissions from travel bookings made through its platform.
2. Payment Processing (Outpayce): Outpayce, Amadeus's payment subsidiary, enables airlines to accept payment cards through the Amadeus Travel Platform, generating revenue through transaction processing fees.
3. Technology Services and Platform Access: Amadeus provides technology platforms, AI solutions, and API access to airlines, airports, and travel management companies, generating revenue through licensing and service fees.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Amadeus operates a comprehensive B2B travel technology platform comprising the Amadeus Travel Platform for airline retailing, booking, and global distribution; Outpayce for travel payment processing; Vision-Box biometric technology for airport and border control; and SkyLink conversational AI for automated travel booking. Revenue is generated primarily through transaction fees, commissions, and technology licensing from airlines, airports, hotels, and travel management companies.

Product overview

Amadeus is a comprehensive travel technology provider operating a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core Amadeus Travel Platform serves as the central infrastructure for airline retailing, booking, and distribution. Key modules include Outpayce for payment processing, Vision-Box biometric technology for airport security and border control, and SkyLink conversational AI for corporate travel booking. Recent additions include biometric corridor technology for document-free airport processing. The platform supports direct API connectivity with partners like Radisson's EMMA CRS and accepts various payment methods including UnionPay. Strategic acquisitions have expanded Amadeus into airport biometrics (Vision-Box) and conversational AI (SkyLink), with a potential acquisition of Idemia Public Security in progress.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amadeus Travel Platform Comprehensive travel technology platform enabling airline retailing, booking, and global distribution across direct and indirect channels. Provides real-time pricing, availability, and reservation capabilities for airlines, travel sellers, and travel management companies. Serves as the central infrastructure underlying Amadeus's enterprise travel technology offerings.
• Vision-Box Biometric Technology Biometric technology offerings for airports, airlines, and border control, including facial recognition systems and biometric corridor technology that enables document-free passenger capture. Deployed at scale at major airports such as Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia as part of the country's digital transformation.
• SkyLink Conversational AI Conversational automation platform for corporate travel that enables travelers to book flights and hotels through chat interfaces. Powered by SkyLink's AI technology, the platform has facilitated tens of thousands of bookings and supports agentic AI capabilities including autonomous trip planning, itinerary generation, and disruption management.
• Outpayce Payment Solutions Payment processing platform from Amadeus that enables airlines to natively accept payment cards, including UnionPay, through both direct and indirect booking channels on the Amadeus Travel Platform. Improves airline cash flow and gives control over the payment experience while offering travelers access to loyalty benefits when booking through indirect channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• EBITDA CAGR of 8% and free cash flow CAGR of 5.2% from 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, minor and major.

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Global strategic partnership between TCS and Amadeus aimed at accelerating modern airline retailing. The collaboration focuses on AI-driven solutions including development of a cloud-based airline platform and joint AI and infrastructure projects.
• UnionPay InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 March 2026Outpayce from Amadeus partnered with UnionPay International to enable airlines to natively accept UnionPay cards through both direct and indirect booking channels via the Amadeus Travel Platform. Native acceptance expected H1 2026.
• Bin Ham Travel GroupregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2025UAE-based travel management company renewed its partnership with Amadeus to improve travel booking services and promote regional growth. Collaboration involves utilizing Amadeus' digital solutions including enhanced mobile booking, hotel content, and airline retailing tools.
• SITA and AACOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Collaboration between SITA, Amadeus, and AACO to improve transparency and accuracy in estimating greenhouse gas emissions from flights. Initiative integrates data from operational and carbon calculation sources to provide detailed emissions information.
• Vision-BoxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Acquired Portugal-based Vision-Box for approximately €320 million ($348 million) to strengthen biometric technology offerings for airports, airlines, and border control.
• Idemia Public SecuritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmadeus emerged as potential buyer for Idemia Public Security in a deal estimated at €2-3 billion. Acquisition would combine two major players in airport biometrics and border control technology, creating a significant entity in the travel security sector.
• Radisson Hotel GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationDirect API connectivity between Radisson's EMMA central reservation system and Amadeus Travel Platform. Integration connects to Radisson's existing API, removes need for separate interfaces, and updates in real-time with current availability and rate details using AI-driven data mapping.
• Shiji and ANCH (National Association of Hotel Chains)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmadeus participated in the IT Assembly: Technology Trends in Hospitality 2026 in Mexico City alongside Shiji and ANCH, gathering industry technology executives managing nearly 35% of Mexico's organized hotel supply.
• flyadealregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSaudi Arabian airline flyadeal went live on Amadeus booking platform, having expanded its domestic network and begun international flights.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sabre Corporation: Sabre is one of the two other major global distribution systems (GDS), directly competing with Amadeus in airline distribution, hospitality technology, and travel agency solutions. It offers the SabreSonic airline platform and similar API-driven travel infrastructure.
• Travelport (now part of CWT): Travelport is a global distribution system rival to Amadeus and Sabre, providing GDS services to travel agencies, airlines, and hotels. Its Travelport+ platform competes head-to-head with the Amadeus Travel Platform across distribution and merchandising.
• CWT (Carlson Wagonlit Travel): CWT is a global corporate travel management company that depends on Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport GDS infrastructure. Following its acquisition of Travelport, CWT spans TMC services and GDS distribution, making it both a major customer and direct competitor in corporate travel.
• BCD Travel: BCD Travel is a major corporate travel management company competing in the same TMC space that Amadeus serves through its corporate travel technology offerings. It uses GDS platforms and competes for the same enterprise travel management contracts.
• SITA: SITA is an air transport technology specialist serving airports, airlines, and governments—directly comparable to Amadeus's airport IT and biometrics business. SITA and Amadeus even co-develop sustainability initiatives, highlighting overlapping airport technology franchises.
• IDEMIA: IDEMIA is a global leader in biometric and identity technology, competing directly with Amadeus's Vision-Box subsidiary in airport biometrics and border control. It is also the potential target of Amadeus's largest acquisition to date.

Broad incumbents

• Booking Holdings: Booking Holdings owns Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, and other OTAs, representing a downstream customer and adjacent competitor to Amadeus. It is one of the largest travel distribution players globally and an important customer/partner for GDS connectivity.
• Expedia Group: Expedia Group operates consumer OTA brands (Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo) and B2B solutions (Expedia Partner Solutions) that interface with Amadeus's GDS. It is both a customer and broad competitor in travel distribution and accommodation.

Emerging players

• Navan: Navan is an AI-native corporate travel and expense platform that directly challenges traditional TMC economics and Amadeus's distribution layer. Its tech-first approach exemplifies the AI-disintermediation risk that has pressured Amadeus's stock.
• Spotnana: Spotnana is a cloud-native travel platform offering TMC-grade corporate booking infrastructure. It represents an emerging competitor that could erode Amadeus's position in corporate travel technology with modern, AI-ready architecture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amadeus