Sabre technology will enable burgeoning Russian carrier to realise expansion plans
Sabre Airline Solutions, the leading provider of software and services to the airline industry from planning to execution, and Russian airline KDAvia have signed a five-year contract involving a significant upgrade of the carrier’s operational and decision-support technology. The project is designed to enhance KDAvia’s operational efficiency, help it run a new terminal in Kaliningrad opening next year, expand its route network and establish an effective hub for travel between eastern and western Europe.
The airline is building a hub and spoke network centering on Kaliningrad, a Russian ’exclave’ on the shores of the Baltic Sea. It says this will provide easier and more efficient access between eastern and western Europe and Russia. KDAvia will use the Sabre AirMax Revenue Manager origin and destination (O&D) revenue management system to build and manage its hub and spoke operations from Kaliningrad’s new airport terminal as it grows its fleet of Boeing 737-300s from six to 19 by the end of this year.
The SabreSonic Passenger Solutions suite of traveller management products, including the SabreSonic Web online booking engine, will allow the airline to manage more effectively the way it markets itself, sells its products, serves its passengers and operates its business. They cover inventory management, reservations, ticketing and e-ticketing, pricing and check-in systems.
KDAvia has also contracted to use the Rocade Operations Control System, Rocade Commercial Planning System and Rocade Crew Management System from Sabre Airline Solutions to support ambitious growth plans. The airline plans to grow passenger numbers from 300,000 in 2005 to more than three million in the next five years.
“Key to our growth plans is our ability to make Kaliningrad the most efficient hub for travel between eastern and western Europe,” said Vitaly Golovin, KDAvia’s commercial director. “We believe that Sabre’s AirMax O&D technology is best placed to help us achieve this, especially as it’s fully integrated with the inventory and reservation components of the SabreSonic suite.”
Khrabrovo Airport in Kaliningrad is a state enterprise. KDAvia is investing heavily in the development of a new terminal there.
“Private and state enterprises working in partnership at Khrabrovo Airport mean Kaliningrad is well positioned to play a pivotal role in the development of air travel between east and west Europe,” said Murray Smyth, Sabre Airline Solutions’ senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The significant investments in new 737 aircraft and new terminal facilities will allow them to take advantage of this rapidly growing air transport market, which grew by at least 13 percent last year. Sabre Airline Solutions is very pleased to be appointed to help KDAvia achieve its ambitious goals with our passenger and revenue management systems and services, all delivered and fully operational within nine months.” Sabre Airline Solutions and sister business Sabre Travel Network have expanded their presence in Russia substantially over the past few years and have become the leading operational, decision-support and distribution technology providers for the airline industry here, as measured by bookings made and passengers boarded.
About KDAviaKDAvia was established in 2002. It operates scheduled and charter flights to Europe and Asia from cities in Russia using Boeing 737 aircraft. KDAvia flew 520,653 passenger kilometers in the first half of 2006 – a 571 percent increase over the first six months of 2005. The airline operated 3,123 flights (1,131 charter flights) from January to June 2006 – 39 times more than during the same period in 2005. According to information received from Transport Clearing House, KDAvia is now one of the 10 largest Russian carriers operating international routes.
About Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world’s largest provider of products to help airlines market, sell, serve and operate from planning to execution.
More than 200 airlines use its broad portfolio of decision-support tools to increase revenues and improve operations, while more than 100 airlines rely on Sabre Airline Solutions for passenger management solutions. A similar number have turned to the company’s consulting group for strategic, commercial and operational advice.
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, AirMax, Rocade and Sabre Travel Network are trademarks and/or service marks of an affiliate of Sabre Holdings Corp. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. (C) 2005 Sabre Inc. All rights reserved.
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