Sabre Airline Solutions, the global leader of technology solutions for the airline industry today announced an expanded relationship with Dubai-based carrier Emirates at IATA’s annual Schedules Conference in Boston this week. Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, will enhance its flight scheduling activity by implementing Sabre SlotManager enabling it to more efficiently manage and track its slot rights at airports.
Emirates, which already uses Sabre technology to optimise its operations, selected Sabre SlotManager because of its extensive experience and proven ability to deliver visible efficiencies that result in significant cost savings across an airline’s operations.
Azhar Kapadwanjwala, Vice President Schedule Planning & Network Optimisation, Emirates, said: “As a growing network, slots are a very valuable asset and it’s important we use them efficiently. Thanks to Sabre SlotManager we now have a centralised database for managing and growing our slots portfolio.”
Part of the Sabre AirFlite suite which provides scheduling and planning solutions, Sabre SlotManager enables airlines to manage and track its slot rights at IATA slot-coordinated airports. Key features include the ability to streamline slot request processes, evaluate and obtain slots for last-minute schedule changes, identify opportunities to take advantage of under-utilised slots, minimise the risk of losing valuable historic slots, and ensure slot requests meet the IATA standard.
Maher Koubaa, Vice President for Sabre Airline Solutions in Middle East and Africa said that in order to generate revenue and reduce operating costs, airlines must continually decide which markets to serve, when to fly and which type of aircraft to assign to a specific route. It also needs to track slot rights at international slot-coordinated airports, as well as evaluate the profitability of various scheduling alternatives and codeshare opportunities to stay ahead of the competition.
“Optimising slot and flight schedules will help Emirates significantly reduce costs throughout its existing network of 99 destinations, while also supporting the carrier’s expansion into new markets by enabling the profitability of new airports to be evaluated. Airlines already using Sabre SlotManager have reduced time spent preparing slot requests by as much as 90 percent over previous manual methods. For airlines operating at a congested hub, what used to take a week or two can now be accomplished in a couple of hours.”
Emirates currently flies to 99 destinations in over 60 countries and will use SabreSlotManager for both its passenger and cargo operations. It joins over 40 airlines that have chosen Sabre SlotManager to manage their slots including Alitalia, British Airways, Delta, Qantas and Virgin Blue.
About Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world’s largest provider of smart, proven, bankable products to help airlines market, sell, serve and operate from planning to execution. The company provides unmatched breadth and depth of integrated, dynamic business solutions delivered by experts to reduce airlines’ costs, increase revenue and optimise the customer experience.
More than 250 airlines use its broad portfolio of 112 decision-support tools to increase revenues and improve operations. More than 100 airlines rely on Sabre Airline Solutions for passenger management solutions, while a similar number have turned to the company’s consulting group for strategic, commercial and operational advice. More than 650 contracts worldwide were signed in 2006 for Sabre Airline Solutions’ leading technology solutions.
Sabre Holdings 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
Sabre Airline Solutions, the Sabre Airline Solutions logo are trademarks and/or service marks of an affiliate of Sabre Holdings Corporation. All other trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
