SOUTHLAKE, Texas & STOCKHOLM, Sweden–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 16,
2004– Open Systems Platform Makes Powerful Flight Operations Technology
Suite Accessible, Easy-to-Use for Small, Medium, and Low Cost Carriers
Sabre Airline Solutions, the industry leader in airline operations
technology, today announced its acquisition of RM Rocade to help meet
the needs of international small, medium-size and low cost carriers
with an easy-to-use, fully functional flight operations product suite
at a compelling price and value point.
RM Rocade, with headquarters in Stockholm, develops and sells
software solutions to airlines for commercial planning, crew
management and operations control. Currently, more than 60 airlines
use the RM Rocade Integrated Suite, including FlyDBA, Air Atlanta,
MyTravel, Cyprus Airways Austrian Airlines, Icelandair, BA
Citiexpress, and other carriers in the European market. RM Rocade also
has a significant presence in Asia and other regions with customers
such as Air China and Kuwait Airways.
“Sabre Airline Solutions has made it possible for small,
medium-size and low cost carriers to operate in new ways through the
use of accessible technology,” said Tom Klein, group president for
Sabre Airline Solutions. “In the last four years, this has included
launching the most successful web-based applications access in the
industry through Sabre eMergo, our ASP offering, and adding PC-based
scheduling and operations software through the acquisition of David R.
Bornemann Associates in 2001. The RM Rocade integrated suite of
products is another extension of this strategy and portfolio.”
In today’s travel environment, airlines rely on sophisticated
flight operations technology solutions to help them quickly recover
from disruptions, such as weather or airport delays, and scheduling
crew for their aircraft. In fact, these systems are crucial for the
Systems Operations Control center, the nucleus of daily airline
operations. The initiatives Sabre Airline Solutions has made for the
small, medium-size and low cost carriers help ensure that these
technology solutions address their absolute requirement for
streamlined, affordable applications.
The ability to make technology accessible to small, medium-size
and low cost carriers is partly based on the open standards “plug and
play” type architecture. The RM Rocade suite has been designed from
the ground up with common industry C++ programming. This result is
powerful technology that is easy-to-use, is affordable and can quickly
integrate new technologies.
RM Rocade was formed in 1986 as Resource Management AB to offer
decision-support systems to the airline industry. The vision was to
offer powerful, user-friendly systems supporting an integrated
process, combining human experience with mathematical optimization.
“Sabre Airline Solutions is the right fit for our products because
they share our vision for leveraging technology to make smart
decisions and making this technology accessible and easy to use —
taking the airline in a box beyond concept but a reality for small and
medium size carriers,” said Urban Deljerud, CEO, for RM Rocade. “We
really see the company taking leadership on advancing the industry to
new ways of operating that benefit the airline and the customer and we
are very excited about being the newest members of the team.”
Sabre Airline Solutions will expand its current flight operations
base of over 120 customers through the acquisition — gaining 50-plus
incremental customers. The acquisition also will allow Sabre Airline
Solutions to significantly expand its sales and support to all of its
airline customers worldwide.
“We have made sure that smaller airlines no longer have to make do
with sub par technology or manual processes in today’s environment,”
said Klein. “The Sabre Airline Solutions flight operations and crew
portfolio offers the lowest cost and quick implementation they require
-- and often are the only systems an airline may need to fully
automate its SOC and manage crew assignments. Smart technology is
not just about the capabilities we provide, it's also making sure
we provide it in way that is affordable and accessible for all
airlines. The addition of the RM Rocade technology and expertise
is another example of how we make that happen."
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 400 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. In the first half of 2004, nearly 300 contracts were
signed.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG) is a world leader in travel
commerce, 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 Corporation. All other trademarks, service marks, and
trade names are the property of their respective owners.
Statements in this release which are not purely historical facts,
including statements about the expected benefits of this transaction
to Sabre Holdings Corporation, or other statements about
anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies
for the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning
of 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 Sabre Holdings Corporation on the date this report was
submitted. Sabre Holdings Corporation 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 risks
or uncertainties related to geopolitical developments, such as the
risk of terrorist attacks; and Sabre Holdings Corporation’s revenues
being highly dependent on the travel and transportation industries.
Sabre Holdings Corporation may not succeed in addressing these and
other risks. Further information regarding factors that could affect
our financial and other results can be found in the risk factors
section of Sabre Holdings Corporation’s most recent filing on Form
10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Sabre Airline Solutions, Southlake
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions