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
