SOUTHLAKE, Texas & ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 21, 2006–Sabre Holdings (NYSE: TSG) and Delta Air Lines (Pink Sheets: DALRQ) today announced that Delta has signed a new seven-year, full content agreement with Sabre Travel Network.
Through the agreement with Sabre Travel Network, all Delta published fares and inventory will be available for subscribers of the Sabre global distribution system (GDS), including online and offline travel agencies, as well as Sabre’s corporate customers. This includes published fares that the airline sells through any third-party distributor and through its reservation offices and Web site, delta.com.
In addition to the Sabre agreement, Delta also signed a new marketing agreement with Travelocity and a participation agreement with Travelocity’s Site59 unit.
“Our long-term full content Sabre Travel Network agreement with Delta is a win for all constituents, including travel agents, corporate travelers and consumers,” said Hugh Jones, chief operating officer, Sabre Travel Network. “It demonstrates the importance of the GDS channel and reinforces our efficient marketplace for travel.”
“This agreement further supports Delta’s restructuring efforts, including our goal to effectively manage our distribution costs,” said Lee Macenczak, Delta’s executive vice president of Sales and Customer Service. “We are committed to providing multiple distribution options that are both preferred by our customers and offer attractive economics to Delta.”
“At Sabre, we have worked jointly and diligently with airlines to come to mutual agreements that ensure efficient access to their inventory,” said Jones. “By using the Sabre GDS, airlines can reach the largest travel marketplace in the world. Agencies benefit by having access to content from a single source, and corporations and consumers benefit from being able to combine the convenience of using a travel agency with the assurance they are also getting the best price.”
About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines (Pink Sheets: DALRQ) is one of the world’s fastest growing international carriers with more than 50 new international routes added or announced in the last year. Delta offers flights to 452 destinations in 95 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. In summer 2006, Delta plans to offer customers more destinations and departures between the U.S., Europe, India and Israel than any global airline(1), including service on 11 new transatlantic routes from its Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs. Delta also is a major carrier to Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 routes announced, added or applied to serve since Jan. 1, 2005. Delta’s marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
(1) From the U.S., based on July 2006 OAG.
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS). The Sabre GDS is a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations. Suppliers get access through one single connection; travel agents get real time access to thousands of travel products from multiple suppliers through one source integrated into their businesses; consumers get access to a global supermarket of the world’s greatest travel possibilities.
Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium in the United States that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings (NYSE: TSG) connects people with the world’s greatest travel possibilities by retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
Statements in this release which are not purely historical facts or which necessarily depend upon future events, including statements about the value expected from the agreements with Delta Air Lines, about Sabre Holdings Corporation’s forecasted financial performance or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. All forward looking statements are based upon information available to Sabre Holdings Corporation on the date this release was issued. Sabre Holdings Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to Sabre Holdings Corporation revenues being subject to adverse changes to our travel supplier relationships and potential substantial decreases in travel transaction volumes. Sabre Holdings Corporation may not succeed in addressing these and other risks. Further information regarding factors that could affect our financial and other results can be found in the risk factors section of Sabre Holdings Corporation’s most recent filing on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Sabre Holdings Corporation, Southlake
IR Contacts:
Karen Fugate, 682-605-2343
karen.fugate@sabre-holdings.com
or
Sabre Travel Network, Southlake
Media Contacts:
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
or
Delta Corporate Communications, 404-715-2554
SOURCE: Sabre Holdings Corporation
