SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Feb 20, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Sabre Airline Solutions, the industry leader in innovative technology that helps airlines better market and sell products, serve customers and operate fleets, reported sales through SabreSonic Web in 2005 totaling more than $4.1 billion. This represents a 27 percent year-over-year increase in sales of the powerful airline Internet booking engine, an indication of the flight industry’s growing demand for passenger self-service capabilities.
SabreSonic Web also delivered a dramatic increase in the number of carriers adopting the solution in 2005, as well as the number of passenger bookings.
— Eleven new customers selected SabreSonic Web during the past year, bringing to 38 the total number of carriers choosing the Web component in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe/Middle East.
— These carriers booked approximately one million passengers a month through the Web offering — a yearly total of 13.4 million passengers.
— This represents an increase in passenger bookings of 33 percent over 2004.
Total SabreSonic Web activity transacted over the year averaged more than $330 million per month. Over 11 million tickets were booked through the Web component in 2005, representing a 24 percent year-over-year increase.
“SabreSonic Web’s booking numbers and revenues increased significantly in 2005, indicating the growing demand for passenger self-service capabilities and the growth of the online space,” said Gianni Marostica, president of Airline Passenger Solutions for Sabre Airline Solutions. “Since its launch in January of 2004, the customer-centric shopping and booking method has proved its value to carriers and their customers alike by offering the best options for booking, check-in and exchanges for today’s travelers.”
Major and regional airlines and low-cost carriers worldwide are using the open-systems technology of the SabreSonic suite for the customer-oriented functionality, flexibility, speed and ease of use it offers. SabreSonic Web can be employed as part of the full lineup of SabreSonic passenger solutions or purchased on a stand-alone basis, enabling carriers to take advantage of the Web module regardless of their existing reservations system.
The Web module offers airlines and their customers a variety of features from basic airline Web site booking capability to connecting online consumers with hotel and car rental partners. Recent enhancements to the product extend a carrier’s Web booking capabilities to airline travel agents and corporate customers with features such as unique user profile identification. Newly added online coupon capabilities enhance the offering’s continued support of airline promotional offers.
The Web component air search page offers travelers the ability to book online by itinerary or price, request nonstop flights and select from one-way, round trip or multiple destination searches. SabreSonic Web can also be configured to provide separate storefronts for specific airline needs, such as corporations and travel agents, helping carriers better serve the specific needs of various customer segments.
“Self-service, particularly online, is becoming a foundation of traveler expectations from ‘consumer-friendly’ airlines,” added Marostica. “The Web component has proven itself as a true business-to-consumer online offering that directly responds to the travel consumer’s demonstrated desire to drive the shopping and booking process.”
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 Sabre Airline Solutions’ leading technology 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, SabreSonic and SabreSonic Web 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.
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, Southlake Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252 kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com