SOUTHLAKE, Texas & ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 10, 2006–Sabre Airline Solutions and Worldspan, L.P. today announced that they have jointly implemented a new message routing technique that streamlines communications links between the global travel industry’s two leading interline e-ticketing hub providers.
Previously, connections between carriers operating on different host systems required a unique communications link. The new “hub-to-hub” connection means message routing between carriers is now handled at the application level rather than creating a distinct communication layer for each interline connection.
In an environment where carriers are laboring to meet the International Air Transport Association (IATA) mandate for 100 percent electronic ticketing by the end of 2007, this comes as a welcome development. The benefit for carriers is the ability to activate interline electronic ticketing projects with more of their valued airline partners. Many carriers are in the process of evaluating long lists of interline partners and making business decisions about which partners will be included in interline electronic ticketing plans. Faster activation capabilities will allow carriers to include more interline partners as they move to electronic ticketing.
“One hundred percent electronic ticketing by 2007 makes travel more convenient for consumers and more efficient for airlines by leveraging existing technologies,” said Tom Murphy, IATA senior vice president of Industry Distribution Financial Services. “But we must speed up the implementation of interline electronic agreements. If we don’t, airlines will limit their ability to work together to deliver and profit from a global network. I am delighted to see innovation being brought to speed up this process. The new approach eases cooperation between hub providers and should accelerate implementing interline electronic agreements. It’s good for consumers and for airlines. And it’s just what IATA would expect from its Simplifying the Business (StB) Preferred vendor and partners.”
The hub-to-hub connection was first implemented by Worldspan and Sabre Airline Solutions as part of an interline connection between Midwest Airlines, connected to the Interline Electronic Ticketing Hub, a component of SabreSonic Ticket, and Northwest Airlines, connected to the Worldspan Interchange Hub. Sabre Airline Solutions and Worldspan estimate this process improvement will cut interline electronic ticketing activation times for airlines by 50 percent.
With awareness in cost reductions for carriers and heightened customer satisfaction across the industry, carriers have begun using e-ticketing as both a cost advantage and an additional customer-centric offering. With electronic tickets, airlines reduce costs associated with the production of paper tickets and the manpower needed to facilitate their use, while increasing customer satisfaction through the proliferation of more convenient and easier to execute transfers. It is these benefits that led to a resolution by IATA for 100 percent e-ticketing by the end of 2007, a trend the industry is quickly moving toward.
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. 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 500 contracts worldwide were signed in 2004 for leading technology solutions from Sabre Airline Solutions.
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 and SabreSonic 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.
About Worldspan, L.P.
Worldspan is a leader in travel technology services for travel suppliers, travel agencies, e-commerce sites and corporations worldwide. Utilizing some of the fastest, most flexible and efficient networks and computing technologies, Worldspan provides comprehensive electronic data services linking approximately 800 travel suppliers around the world to a global customer base. Worldspan offers industry-leading Fares and Pricing technology such as Worldspan e-Pricing(R), hosting solutions and customized travel products. Worldspan’s e-ticket Technologies offers a wide range of products to fit every airlines ET and IET current and future needs. Worldspan enables travel suppliers, distributors and corporations to reduce costs and increase productivity with technology like Worldspan Go!(R) and Worldspan Trip Manager(R) XE. Worldspan is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional information is available at www.worldspan.com.
Worldspan Forward-Looking Statement
Statements in this release and any exhibits hereto which are not purely historical facts, including statements about forecasted financial projections or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Worldspan, L.P. (“the Company”) on the date this release was submitted. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: the Company’s revenue being highly dependent on the travel and transportation industries; airlines limiting their participation in travel marketing and distribution services; airlines altering their content or changing the pricing of such content; or other changes within, or that may affect the travel industry or the Company. More information on potential risks and uncertainties is available in the Company’s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual Form 10-K report, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and Form S-4.
CONTACT: Worldspan, Atlanta
Erin Hadaway, 770-563-6545
erin.hadaway@worldspan.com
or
Sabre Airline Solutions, Southlake
Media Contact:
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions
