AirPlus International Partners with JCB in Asia Pacific; Partnership with Japan's Largest Card Issuer and Acquirer Expands AirPlus Reach.

WASHINGTON & NEU-ISENBURG & TOKYO -- AirPlus International, a leading global supplier of corporate travel payment solutions partners with JCB, Japan's largest international credit card issuer, to provide international companies in Japan with a complete corporate payment solution. Through the partnership with JCB, AirPlus has extended its partner network and merchant base in the Asian Pacific region, strengthening its position in the business travel payment market worldwide.

The partnership between AirPlus and JCB will offer corporations in Japan a comprehensive solution that will enable them to better analyze and control their travel spending with detailed and accurate data including company, traveler and trip-specific information. The partnership also expands the AirPlus merchant base in Asia Pacific. Corporations world wide will benefit from the new strategic cooperation between AirPlus and JCB, making it possible for them to manage all corporate travel purchasing through a single global provider.

"In JCB, we have found a partner that is ideally positioned in the Japanese market. JCB's existing payment systems and long lasting experience are an excellent fit with our know-how in international business travel management. With JCB we now have the basis for sustained growth in the region," explains Peter Metzler, Managing Director at AirPlus.

"We at JCB are delighted that AirPlus has recognized our expertise as a comprehensive payment solution and chosen to work with us. We believe that its global corporate clients will benefit from our advanced business travel management system," said Mr. Hiroya Nobuhara, President and CEO of JCB Co., Ltd. "This is part of our overall strategy of evolution from a credit card company to a comprehensive payment solution provider on a global basis."

The core product of the partnership is the JCB AirPlus Company Account. A UATP-based product that offers companies a central billing solution to easily pay for air tickets from all major international airlines. The detailed accounting information provided by the JCB AirPlus Company Account enables companies to enjoy the benefit of unparalleled transparency of costs.

In addition to the JCB AirPlus Company Account, the JCB AirPlus Corporate Card serves as a powerful payment tool for all other travel and entertainment-related expenses. Corporate travelers may conveniently use their card to gain access to numerous Asia Pacific points of sale and JCB Plaza services; they also enjoy extensive insurance benefits as well as a wide range of other advantages.

All data generated through the use of AirPlus payment products is available to corporations anytime online via the web-based AirPlus Information Manager, allowing them to analyze and generate comprehensive reports on their travel programs. Detailed expense reports provided by the AirPlus Information Manager assist businesses to identify potential saving opportunities, thereby providing them with an excellent basis for price negotiations with airlines, hotels, car rental companies and other service providers. Over 22,000 corporate customers in over 23 countries rely on AirPlus for their business travel management needs and benefit from AirPlus' presence in all the leading business travel markets worldwide.

JCB is an international credit card brand and the largest card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network includes 11.7 million merchants and spans 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 51.6 million card members. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 320 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and card member base. JCB's corporate philosophy of "Service from the heart," a commitment to responsive and high-quality service, continues to guide it as it creates the future together with its customers, merchants and partners. For further information, please visit the JCB Co. Ltd. home page at: www.jcb-global.com/english or www.jcbinternational.com.

AirPlus International is the European market leader in corporate travel payment systems and management information reporting solutions. With AirPlus' central payment accounts, corporate cards and online management tools, customers can optimize all their travel payment practices. More than 22,000 companies, including some of the world's largest global enterprises, have come to trust AirPlus. AirPlus is the preferred payment partner of Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), British Airways (NYSE:BAB), Lufthansa German Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and TAP Air Portugal. Visit www.airplus.com for more information.