JetBlue Looks to Sabre Airline Solutions for Integrated Flight Operations, Crew Management and Resource Management Solutions to Increase Carrier’s Efficiency
SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sabre Airline Solutions, the global leader of software and services for the airline industry from planning to execution, announced today that it will expand its relationship with JetBlue to help optimize its flight operations, crew management and resource management capabilities. This follows JetBlue’s decision to participate in the Sabre Travel Network global distribution system (GDS).
JetBlue joins value-focused carriers AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines and WestJet as customers of Sabre Airline Solutions’ resource management solutions that allow the carriers to differentiate themselves in their respective markets. According to Nejib Ben-Khedher, head of Sabre Airline Solutions consulting and delivery organization, value-focused carriers adopt the best of the no-frills carriers and traditional models. Among the adoptions, he said, is partnering with industry expertise on such functions as operations planning and seat distribution.
“It is vital to our continuing success to partner with industry leaders like Sabre Airline Solutions and Sabre Travel Network to drive operational efficiency and productivity at JetBlue,” said Duffy Mees, the airline’s chief information officer. “They truly understand what is important to us as an airline, and their tools are a great fit within our framework and will help us deliver the JetBlue Experience even more efficiently.”
Specifically, JetBlue has renewed its commitment to the Sabre Flight Control Suite and Sabre Dispatch Manager, and added functions to its Sabre Streamline Resource Management Suite.
The Flight Control suite includes crew management and flight operations products in use by many value-focused carriers such as JetBlue. The Flight Control suite includes the Sabre FliteTrac system, which enables JetBlue’s system operations crewmembers to actively manage the status of its flights. By interfacing with JetBlue’s computer reservation system (CRS), the FliteTrac system can display real-time flight information in a dynamic, configurable graphical display format with user-defined colors indicating flight status. The system interfaces with multiple sources to process flight movement messages, gathering data such as flight number and date; origin and destination; departure time; assigned aircraft; fuel data; customer list (both planned and actual); and the original, revised, estimated and actual arrival time.
In addition to the FlightTrac system, the Flight Control suite products JetBlue renewed with Sabre Airline Solutions include the CrewQual and CrewTrac systems as well as CrewTrac Voice, CrewTrac Web and FliteTrac Web.
Dispatch Manager is the premiere automated flight planning and dispatch system. Dispatch Manager assists flight planners and dispatchers in developing and optimizing flight plans that contain required fuels, weight limitations, clearance information, assigned cockpit crew names, NOTAMs, weather, and navigation and aircraft performance data. The system also supports pre-flight planning for aircraft and route evaluation.
JetBlue added the Sabre Streamline StaffPlan, Sabre Streamline RosterMaker, Sabre Streamline StaffAdmin and Sabre Streamline StaffManager systems to the suite package that already included Sabre Streamline GatePlan and Sabre Streamline GateManager. The Streamline suite is an integrated end-to-end resource management solution that can dramatically improve day-to-day operations by providing optimal staffing levels, building rosters based on user-defined restraints, automating employee administration and offering decision support on the day of operation.
JetBlue’s renewal also includes an enhanced support package that provides additional levels of service tailored to the airline’s evolving needs.
“As an airline, JetBlue continues to grow and these systems are growing with it,” said Steve Clampett, president of Airline Products and Services for Sabre Airline Solutions. “Our continuing goal is to provide the technology, products and services that address the issues key to an airline’s challenges in the current market, whether that airline is a start-up, a regional carrier or a more complex traditional airline. The enhanced support package is a new concept that allows customers the opportunity to contract for more individualized real-time support.”
To extend its reach to the corporate market, JetBlue also elected to participate once again in the GDS when it announced its participation with Sabre Travel Network, the leading GDS in North America.
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 650 contracts worldwide were signed in 2005 for Sabre Airline Solutions’ leading technology solutions.
Sabre Holdings (NYSE:TSG – News) 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, Sabre Airline Solutions, the Sabre Airline Solutions logo, Sabre Travel Network, CrewQual, CrewTrac, FliteTrac, GateManager, GatePlan, StaffAdmin, StaffManager, StaffPlan and Streamline 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. © 2006 Sabre Inc. All rights reserved.
About JetBlue
In the six years since its launch, JetBlue Airways has focused on creating a new airline category — an airline that offers value, service and style. Based out of New York City, the low-cost carrier currently serves 48 destinations with up to 470 flights daily. Onboard JetBlue, customers enjoy roomy leather seats and 36 channels of free DIRECTV(r) programming, the most live TV available on any airline. On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight(tm) is also available. JetBlue offers customers generous brand name snacks and beverages, including freshly brewed Dunkin’ Donuts(r) coffee, and delicious wines selected by the airline’s Low Fare Sommelier, Josh Wesson from Best Cellars(r). On overnight flights from the West, the airline now offers Shut-Eye Service(tm), with a comfort kit designed exclusively for JetBlue by Bliss Spa and other special amenities including a “good morning” hot towel service. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com/?source=pr.
Contact:
Sabre Airline Solutions
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
or
JetBlue
Corporate Communications, 718-709-3089
CorporateCommunications@jetblue.com
Source: Sabre Airlines Solutions
