SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 16, 2005–Leading global
travel commerce company Sabre Holdings has opened an office in Moscow
to accommodate its growing presence in Russia and central Asia. The
office, in Actor Gallery in Tverskaya Street, will be staffed by two
of the company’s businesses, Sabre Travel Network and Sabre Airline
Solutions. They will provide products for travel agencies and
operational, decision-support and reservation technology to airlines
across the region.
The office was opened today by Tom Klein, group president of Sabre
Travel Network and Sabre Airline Solutions. Speaking at the event,
Klein described the region’s travel industry as “burgeoning” and said
Sabre Holdings was keen to expand the presence it has already
established here.
“We see Russia and central Asia as huge growth areas for the
travel and tourism industry,” Klein said. “The amount of travel being
booked has grown by 14 percent in just one year. We expect sales of
air travel alone to more than double in Russia between now and the end
of the decade, as continued prosperity in the region boosts demand for
domestic, regional and international travel even further. We therefore
see a definite opportunity to provide the travel industry in Russia
with the infrastructure it needs to support this growth.”
Sabre Travel Network recently upgraded the reservation system used
by nearly 6,000 Aeroflot-affiliated travel agents in more than 3,000
locations in Russia and elsewhere around the world. It attracted
attention from aviation and travel technology specialists all over the
world and made the Sabre global distribution system (GDS) the most
widely used travel agency reservation system in Russia.
This upgrade resulted in providing unparalleled access to travel
content for the first time to the Russian market. Sabre Travel
Network’s global reach provides 100,000 points of sale in 113
countries, delivering connections to 50,000 travel agencies, hundreds
of corporations and millions of consumers — and the greatest
aggregation of travel demand anywhere. The company recently won the
accolade of ‘World’s Leading GDS/CRS’ for a record twelfth consecutive
year at the World Travel Awards in London.
The travel agent conversion has been accomplished in conjunction
with a massive technology upgrade for the Russian flag carrier by
Sabre Airline Solutions. This upgrade involved the successful switch
from outdated technology systems to cutting-edge reservation,
operational and decision-support products. The IT overhaul, combined
with the airline’s recent product upgrade and branding exercise,
enables the carrier to compete successfully on international routes
and paves the way for it to enter the SkyTeam airline alliance.
Sabre Travel Network and Sabre Airline Solutions have had a
presence in Russia for five years, and together now have a team of 30
people in Russia. Most are Russians, and the businesses operate a
fully-equipped Russian-language helpdesk for their travel agency and
airline customers.
Klein said the company wanted to grow its Russian business
quickly. It intends to win new business from other travel agencies and
Russian airlines beyond the Aeroflot network.
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.
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to
the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS). The Sabre GDS is
a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects suppliers, including
hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000
travel agency locations. Suppliers get access through one single
connection; travel agents get real time access to thousands of travel
products from multiple suppliers through one source integrated into
their businesses; consumers get access to a global supermarket of the
world’s greatest travel possibilities.
Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading
Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network,
the unique leisure travel agency consortium that enables members to
sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated
market intelligence.
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 and the Sabre Airline Solutions logos 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.
CONTACT: Sabre Airline Solutions
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions & Sabre Travel Network