SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 13, 2005–In the last year, 17 new airlines chose Sabre Airline Solutions’ eMergo Web access delivery method to access airline software products, bringing the total number of customer contracts to 72 and making the eMergo distribution method the leading application service provider (ASP) for the airline transportation industry. Using 127 applications among them, the 72 airlines have obtained a cost-effective alternative to on-site system implementation.
With competitive pressures continuing to grow in the airline industry, carriers are continuing the trend toward ASP solutions as a way to lower information technology costs and show a faster return on investment with new technology. ASP solutions like the eMergo solution give customers the ability to drastically reduce upfront and refresh costs while simplifying IT responsibilities, allowing airlines to focus on core competencies and provide a higher value to travelers.
“Sabre Airline Solutions presented us with a lower total cost of ownership comparing a local installation to access via the eMergo solution,” said Glenn Taniguchi, vice president of schedule planning for Hawaiian Airlines. “We recognized we would achieve a quicker return on investment and faster time to market — with all the benefits and sophisticated functionality — by going with a hosted solution.”
With the eMergo solution, Sabre Airline Solutions sets itself apart from the competition with features that include a single vendor for hosting and software, ease of application integration and breadth of portfolio solutions, superior service levels and data center management, and a proven delivery track record that sits at the top of the competition.
“Airlines — and really any company with significant IT operations — should consider the complete cost of ownership with their IT systems,” said Steve Clampett, senior vice president of Sabre Airline Solutions. “Many companies overlook the hidden costs of dealing with third-party vendors, the labor that goes into maintaining an application and the less-than-perfect support they may have during times of critical operations.”
When looking at the total cost of ownership of acquiring and maintaining an application, the eMergo solution saves customers as much as 70 percent in the first year and 40 percent in subsequent years.
“The eMergo solution was initially introduced to Royal Brunei Airlines in 2002 as part of Sabre’s AirMax Revenue Manager product. From an IT perspective, the real advantage of the eMergo ASP model, is that it has enabled us to eliminate the burden of maintaining a costly computing infrastructure,” said Gerry Mitchell, Head of IT for Royal Brunei Airlines.
“We pride ourselves on being able to offer our customers a superior product combined with superior hosting service that they can bank on, and ASP solutions are not just beneficial for airlines,” said Mike Douglass, vice president of the eMergo solution for Sabre Airline Solutions. “eMergo’s customers also include cargo management, dining and cabin services, fares management, finance systems, flight operations and control, loyalty management, maintenance and engineering, marketing data and analysis services, passenger processing, planning and scheduling, and resource and revenue management — really everyone who wants to simplify their operations and avoid multi-site installations.”
About Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world’s largest provider of software products; reservations, 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 500 contracts worldwide were signed in 2004 for Sabre Airline Solutions’ leading technology solutions. More than 100 airlines worldwide rely on Sabre Airline Solutions for passenger management solutions, with eight new carriers choosing the SabreSonic solutions, the first new generation reservations system offered in the market, in 2004 and six carrier renewals. In addition, more than 100 clients worldwide have turned to the Sabre Airline Solutions consulting group for strategic, commercial and operational consulting.
Sabre Holdings Corp. (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, eMergo, AirMax 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.
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CONTACT: Sabre Airline Solutions, Southlake
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions
