Tourexpi
Amadeus has announced the acquisition of SkyLink, a
New York-based, AI-first technology company specializing in orchestration and
conversational automation. The move marks a further step in Amadeus’ strategy
to transition the travel industry from AI proof of concepts to large-scale,
real-world deployment of meaningful AI use cases.
Advancing AI from pilots to production
Founded to enhance the corporate travel experience,
SkyLink has developed a proprietary AI architecture and multilayer
orchestration engine designed to integrate seamlessly into chat platforms. Its
technology enables travelers to book and manage flights and hotels
conversationally within seconds.
For businesses, the platform delivers cost
efficiencies and productivity gains by automating routine processes and freeing
up employees for higher-value tasks. With tens of thousands of bookings already
completed, SkyLink has demonstrated how AI-driven conversational tools can
improve speed, simplicity and user satisfaction.
Strengthening Amadeus’ AI strategy
The acquisition reinforces Amadeus’ long-term strategy
of deploying scalable AI applications grounded in operational reality. Building
on its established use of AI to optimize travel operations, Amadeus is
progressively adding AI-powered conversational layers to its products, helping
customers’ employees access insights more easily and maximize existing
capabilities.
SkyLink’s AI-native framework complements Amadeus’
global reach, API ecosystem and industry expertise. Operating in more than 190
markets and processing billions of search requests and millions of travel
transactions daily, Amadeus provides the scale required to apply AI reliably
and at volume.
Immediate benefits for corporate travel
One of the first tangible impacts of the deal will be
in the Travel Management Company (TMC) segment. SkyLink’s technology will
enhance Amadeus’ corporate travel solutions, particularly strengthening its
position in North America.
Over time, Amadeus plans to extend AI-driven
conversational capabilities beyond corporate travel to airlines, airports,
hospitality providers and the broader travel ecosystem. The objective is to
support travelers before, during and after their journeys while enabling travel
providers to deliver seamless, responsive experiences at scale.
Industry perspectives
“Combining our AI-native technology with Amadeus'
scale and industry reach will allow us to deploy our technology faster and
bring powerful new capabilities that benefit travelers and companies across the
travel industry. It's a pivotal time to deliver concrete AI solutions and, now
with Amadeus, we can accelerate the next phase of travel innovation,” said
Atyab Bhatti, CEO & Co-Founder of SkyLink.
Luis Maroto, President and CEO of Amadeus, added:
“Amadeus is the embedded and neutral execution layer for travel; built on three
pillars: our global scale, the power of our integrated and deeply connected
business logic, and our status as a trusted system of record in the industry
since 1987. These pillars enable us to apply AI-driven capabilities
consistently across airlines, airports, hotels, travel sellers and the wider
travel ecosystem. Our technology is deeply integrated across the travel
industry, connecting systems and workflows developed over decades. It combines
industrial-grade reliability, operational resilience, and data-driven insight
that enable us to deploy AI in real-world production environments globally.
Together, these pillars reinforce Amadeus' role as the trusted technology
partner enabling innovation at scale and allowing AI to augment and reinforce
the travel experience.”
Responsible AI and long-term investment
Strategic partnerships and targeted investments
underpin Amadeus’ long-term AI roadmap. Guided by a robust AI ethics framework,
the company emphasizes responsible, secure development aligned with operational
value for the travel industry.
Amadeus also continues to refine how developers and
partners access its AI capabilities, focusing on secure, scalable interfaces
tailored to real-world use cases.
Image
Credit: Luis Marato © Amadeus
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