Mexican low-cost airline VivaAerobus accelerates growth plan using Sabre GDS distribution technology to reach travel agencies across the Americas

VivaAerobus makes the Sabre travel marketplace its first B2B e-commerce platform to support a transformational commercial strategy in collaboration with travel agents and corporate buyers in Mexico, the U.S. and other key Americas markets

Southlake, Texas, and Mexico City, Mexico March 16 2016 VivaAerobus, a leading low-cost airline operating one of the largest domestic flight networks in Mexico, is now positioned for expanded opportunities with the airline’s entry into the global distribution system operated by Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), the leading technology provider to the global travel industry.

The announcement follows an agreement signed between VivaAerobus and Sabre, which includes access to a set of software solutions and GDS capabilities that will be critical to improving the way the airline automates commercial processes, sells seat inventory and manages electronic ticketing across sales channels.  With access in the Sabre travel marketplace, tens of thousands of agents in Mexico, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean will have the ability to sell VivaAerobus tickets to travelers who previously did not have access to the carrier’s inventory.  In addition, millions of online shoppers searching on multiple online travel sites that Sabre supports will for the first time be able to compare and purchase VivaAerobus flights and fares.

With this landmark agreement for its business, VivaAerobus is embarking on a new phase of its expansion plans, focusing on diversifying its reach to other revenue streams, including travel agencies as key intermediaries, and servicing a broader customer base.

“This is a landmark agreement that aims to expand revenue opportunities and enhance customer service for VivaAerobus and our broad travel agency community, bringing their air fares to our leading booking platform while helping the airline to initiate a rapid transformation of their commercial operations leveraging the latest air-commerce capabilities developed by Sabre,” said Julia De Jesús, vice president of Sabre in northern Latin America.

“The acceleration of our business requires expanding our reach to new channels and working with travel agencies as strategic partners to offer our flight schedules and renowned low fares as competitive options to other airlines, while delivering on our value proposition to millions of travelers,” said Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of VivaAerobus. “The real-time connectivity to agency and corporate subscribers to Sabre combined with capabilities for instant booking confirmation and ticket changes will drive our commercial transformation ahead”.

The technology enhancement at VivaAerobus will help create an e-commerce environment with capabilities for air retailing via the Sabre travel marketplace, while also adopting industry standards that will support the airline’s real-time connectivity with travel agents in Mexico, the U.S., Latin American and Caribbean markets.

Following the systems and connectivity upgrade, VivaAerobus’ seat inventory and fares will be available in the Sabre GDS starting this summer for agents to shop and book.

With this agreement, VivaAerobus joins more than 400 regional and global carriers that leverage Sabre technology to market and sell airfares and ancillaries.

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About Sabre

Sabre Corporation is the leading technology provider to the global travel industry. Sabre’s software, data, mobile and distribution solutions are used by hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotel properties to manage critical operations, including passenger and guest reservations, revenue management, flight, network and crew management. Sabre also operates a leading global travel marketplace, which processes more than $120 billion of estimated travel spend annually by connecting travel buyers and suppliers. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.