SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 17, 2005–Oman Air has become the first Sabre Airline Solutions customer to implement e-ticketing in the Middle East. The airline has introduced e-ticketing capabilities successfully in its reservation offices in Muscat, Dubai, Salalah, Cairo, Bombay, Madras and Kuwait. It uses SabreSonic passenger management products for both its reservations and check-in operations at these airports, so acceptance of electronic ticketing was possible without additional third-party ground handling functionality.
Oman Air will extend e-ticketing capability to its offices in Beirut and Delhi before the end of the year. The carrier will then expand its e-ticketing capability to airports that require third-party ground handling functionality, such as Bahrain.
Phase two of the project, due for implementation in 2006, will see Oman Air implement GDS e-ticketing. This will allow travel agents to issue Oman Air e-tickets through the global distribution systems. The airline will also join Sabre Airline Solutions’ Interline Electronic Ticketing Hub next year. Interline agreements will enable the carrier to issue a single e-ticket even when the trip involves travel on other carriers.
Sabre Airline Solutions’ consulting business was engaged to address some of Oman Air business process changes to ensure a successful electronic ticketing implementation.
“The consultative element to Sabre Airline Solutions business is a real differentiator from other suppliers, adding value and easing the implementation process,” said Edward Grauvogl, Oman Air’s planning divisional manager and acting commercial divisional manager. “We were surprised by how easily e-ticketing was accepted by the local market, given our initial wariness about the introduction of this technology in a paper-driven society.”
Already 45 carriers are connected to Sabre Airline Solutions’ interline hub, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, JAL and Qantas.
“Oman Air is one of the most progressive airlines in the region,” said Murray Smyth, Sabre Airline Solutions’ senior vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “It is using technology effectively to help deal with existing business challenges in the region and to prepare for anticipated trends and future developments.”
In addition to the e-ticketing project Oman Air uses Sabre PC AirFlite flight scheduling, Sabre Planet forecasting and the Sabre AirMax Revenue Management Suite, and will soon start using the SabreSonic Web online booking product and the Sabre Traveler loyalty system.
About Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world’s largest provider of software products, reservations and departure control systems and other passenger management systems, and consulting services that help airlines simplify operations and lower costs. Sabre Airline Solutions’ proven leadership is demonstrated by the growing number of airlines that leverage the technology and services: More than 200 airlines worldwide use Sabre Airline Solutions’ broad portfolio of smart solutions for decision-support tools to increase revenues and improve operations. More than 100 airlines worldwide rely on Sabre Airline Solutions for passenger management solutions, with 15 new carriers added and nine carrier renewals for SabreSonic Res advanced reservations in 2003. In the first half of 2004, six new carriers signed up the new generation passenger solution, and another three carriers renewed contracts. In addition, more than 100 clients worldwide have turned to Sabre Airline Solutions consulting group for strategic, commercial and operational consulting. More than 500 contracts worldwide were signed in 2003 within Sabre Airline Solutions and nearly 400 have been signed in the first half of 2004.
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.
Sabre Airline Solutions, the Sabre Airline Solutions logo, SabreSonic, Sabre PC AirFlite, Sabre Planet and Sabre AirMax Revenue Management Suite 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.
CONTACT: Sabre Airline Solutions, Southlake
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions
