Sabre Travel Network expands agreement with Lufthansa and SWISS
LONDON, United Kingdom, 7 May 2008 – Sabre Travel Network today announced that Sabre agents in Germany, Austria and Switzerland who choose to participate in the Lufthansa and SWISS Preferred Fares programs will be able to access and sell all fares and inventory without a fee.
“This is fantastic news for our agency customers who have told us they want to continue booking via the GDS because it’s the most efficient and productive way of working,” said Martin Cowley, Senior Vice President for Sabre Travel Network in EMEA.
Commenting on the announcement, Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales, Lufthansa Passenger Airlines said: “Sabre is an important distribution channel and an efficient marketplace for all Lufthansa fares. Thanks to the extension of our agreement, we can now offer our Preferred Fares without any additional fees to participating travel agencies using Sabre.”
Harry Hohmeister, SWISS Chief Network & Distribution Officer said: “Sabre is a key partner in our distribution structure. And for our travel agency partners, Sabre offers a highly efficient means of booking all SWISS and Lufthansa flights and fares. Our extended agreement with Sabre will sharpen SWISS’s competitive edge and provide all the travel agencies that use Sabre with access to all SWISS and Lufthansa fares without additional fees.”
Today’s announcement between Sabre, Lufthansa and SWISS also gives Sabre subscribers around the world continued access to all published fares and inventory.
“It’s our standing philosophy to find solutions that meet the needs of everyone in the industry and today’s announcement with Lufthansa and SWISS reinforces our ability to deliver this while highlighting the continued value of the GDS,” said Cowley.
“We’re confident today’s announcement will be well received by the industry, delivering benefits to our existing agents and new customers we hope to attract as part of our continued expansion in Europe,” he said.
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides the most comprehensive end-to-end solutions for corporate and leisure travel. The Sabre GDS is the foundation for these solutions, providing a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects travel suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations. Currently, Sabre collectively handles over 70 percent of the BTN 100 bookings.
Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, for corporate travel reservation technology; Nexion, a host agency; SynXis, for hotel reservation management, distribution and technology services; E-site marketing, specializing in online business solutions exclusively for the hospitality industry TRAMS, mid- and back-office solutions and marketing services for travel agencies; and TRAMS Marketing Alliance (TMA), a marketing promotions services for leisure travel agencies. Sabre Travel Network also markets TripTailor Vacations, a travel wholesaler providing dynamic packaging for the travel agency marketplace.
Sabre Holdings 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.
