ARC Shuttering Helix at Year-End

The Airlines Reporting Corp. is discontinuing Helix, its consortium-like program geared toward smaller agents and industry newcomers. ARC informed its 260 Helix agencies by email last week that Helix will end on Dec. 31. “[T]he market and subsequent economics for all parties involved have led management to revaluate the program as a whole,” ARC said.

Edyta Satchell, ARC’s director of product management, said that while Helix was valued by member agents, especially for its education and training, “we didn’t see the uptake that we anticipated.” Sales growth was also “slower and smaller” than expected, she told Travel Market Report, adding, “We had to look at our economics.” Helix was launched in February 2011 amid considerable controversy.

Editor’s Note: This news brief has been updated to reflect corrected information supplied by ARC regarding the number of agencies in Helix.

– Marilee Crocker