Sabre’s reporting tools hailed for enabling better decision-making about travel
SOUTHLAKE, TX – March 19, 2009 – Oxford University has tipped its hat at Sabre Holding’s air emissions carbon calculator calling it: “the most detailed aviation carbon calculator in existence” according to a comparative report completed by the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford entitled “Calculating the Carbon Dioxide Emissions Of Flights.”
The carbon calculator powers four CO2 reports available today through Sabre’s ’Traveler Security and Data Suite’ (TSDS). Launched in 2007, it is used around the world by Sabre travel agencies and corporations using GetThere, to determine the impact their travel has had on the environment. Users can view the total volume of carbon emissions produced for air, car and hotel travel across a date range or specific destinations traveled. In addition to carbon reporting, TSDS also provides traveler security services, and robust agency and corporate travel reporting with up to three years of historical travel including ticketed and un-ticketed pre-trip data.
An excerpt from the Oxford University report states:
“The Sabre Holdings model is based on a wide range of high accuracy input data, allowing the calculation of emissions from a single flight, depending on carrier, plane type and seating configuration. As such this is the most detailed aviation carbon calculator in existence capable of providing emissions information to clients at a higher level of accuracy than before. This higher level of accuracy allows new decision making processes to be adopted by individuals and institutions. The Sabre Holdings model has the potential to be adopted by both aviation offsetting companies and for corporate social responsibility reporting.”
“It’s an honor to be recognized by Oxford University for the quality and accuracy of our data solutions – in this case, our reports on air carbon emissions,” said Tom Klein, Executive Vice President of Sabre Holdings. “Our tools are designed to help agencies and corporations make more informed decisions about travel by improving traveler security, providing near real-time information about travel patterns, and allowing them to measure the impact of their travel on the environment. In these challenging times, it’s important to continue traveling to preserve global business relationships and do our part to keep the global economy moving – our tool helps agencies and corporations do this in a socially responsible and more cost-effective way.”
In developing the calculator, Sabre researched international guidelines and third party offerings before opting to build its own carbon calculation in-house, drawing from protocols established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and ICAO, as well as data and models from the FAA and Eurocontrol.
“In developing our solution, we recognized the need for a single industry standard on how air emissions and other elements of travel are measured and reported. This is something we would like to explore with our customers and industry associations, particularly as the demand for carbon and environmental reporting continues to grow,” said Klein.
The Oxford University Report “Calculating the Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Flights”, completed by Dr. Jardine of the Environmental Change Institute is the most comprehensive study on air emissions calculation methodology to date. It includes comparisons of data and methodology with existing calculation protocols and corporate emissions reporting formats.
For more information about the report, please visit: http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/energy/flights.php
About Sabre Holdings
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. Sabre Holdings supports travelers, travel agents, corporations, government agencies and travel suppliers through its companies: Travelocity, Sabre Travel Network and Sabre Airline Solutions. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, the company has approximately 9,000 employees in 59 countries and is owned by private equity firms Silver Lake Partners and TPG. More information is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
Media Contact:
Nancy St. Pierre
Media Relations
682.605.3864
Nancy.st.pierre@sabre.com