PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:CAR) and British Airways have entered into a multi-year exclusive global partnership agreement to provide British Airways customers with access to Avis Car Rental vehicles, along with other travel benefits. The new agreement represents a renewal of the 15-year-old cross-marketing relationship between Avis Budget Group and British Airways, the largest international air carrier in the United Kingdom.
As part of the agreement, business and leisure travelers visiting British Airways' website www.ba.com, are able to make an Avis reservation as a stand-alone car reservation, by adding a vehicle rental to an existing flight booking, or by reserving a flight-plus-car holiday package. Customers who prefer to contact a British Airways call center can also enjoy the convenience of reserving an Avis vehicle directly with British Airways' own reservation agents*.
In addition, approximately three million British Airways Executive Club members around the world enjoy additional benefits from the partnership. These include money-saving offers on Avis rentals, the ability to add one free additional driver with every rental and the opportunity to earn British Airways Executive Club and Avios travel rewards points on rentals.
"The recent opening of the Avis Car Rental location at Heathrow Terminal 5, British Airways' flagship terminal, is just one of the many ways that we have worked hard to tailor our products and services to the needs of this important partnership," said Larry De Shon, president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Avis Budget Group. "We're very proud to renew our exclusive agreement with British Airways and look forward to more partnership innovations and incremental rental volume over the coming years."
The new agreement also provides the companies with the option to bring Budget Car Rental into the partnership during the lifetime of the agreement.
"To be extending our long-standing relationship with Avis gives our customers continued access to premium products and services, as well as competitively priced car hire as well as fly and drive holidays worldwide," said Claire Bentley, managing director at British Airways Holidays. "The fact that during the lifetime of the agreement, we have the option of bringing the Budget brand into our ancillary portfolio also makes this announcement great news for our customers."
About Avis Budget Group
Avis Budget Group, Inc. is a leading global provider of vehicle rental services, both through its Avis and Budget brands, which have more than 10,000 rental locations in approximately 175 countries around the world, and through its Zipcar brand, which is the world's leading car sharing network, with more than 860,000 members. Avis Budget Group operates most of its car rental offices in North America, Europe and Australia directly, and operates primarily through licensees in other parts of the world. Avis Budget Group has approximately 29,000 employees and is headquartered in Parsippany, N.J. More information is available at www.avisbudgetgroup.com.
About British Airways
British Airways, part of International Airlines Group, is one of the world's leading global premium airlines and the largest international carrier in the United Kingdom. The carrier has its home base at London Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport and flies to more than 70 different countries. British Airways carries more than 40 million customers a year. The airline currently has a fleet of more than 270 aircraft. More information is available at www.ba.com.
About Avios
Avios Group Limited operates the global Avios currency for the British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus frequent flyer programmes, as well as the Avios Travel Rewards Programme in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Millions of members collect Avios in over 220 countries worldwide. Owned by International Airlines Group, Avios' headquarters is in the United Kingdom, with a global office network in Madrid, Johannesburg, New York City and Shanghai. Avios can be collected when booking flights with British Airways, Iberia or oneworld® partner airlines as well as on international hotel chains stays, holidays and car rental and on everyday purchases through partners. Avios can be redeemed for travel rewards including flights (excluding taxes, fees and carrier charges) with premium airlines. For more information, visit www.avios.com.
*British Airways customers who reserve an Avis rental directly with the British Airways customer call center will incur a fee for the booking.