The global travel industry has witnessed remarkable shifts over the past few years, shaped by the pandemic, technological advancements, and evolving consumer preferences. As travel demand rebounds and new distribution models take center stage, the role of technology in optimizing airline operations, revenue management, and customer experiences has never been more critical.
In an exclusive interview to the Times of India, Roshan Mendis, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Sabre, shared insights on the future of airline retailing, the impact of AI and cloud computing, and Sabre’s expansion plans in India and the Asia-Pacific region.
TOI: The global travel industry has faced significant challenges in recent years. How do you see demand (domestic and international) evolving in 2025 and beyond, especially for India? India clocked a double-digit growth in domestic passenger traffic from 2015 to 2018.
Roshan: Post-pandemic, the market and demand have been strong. We have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and the demand outlook remains positive. Indications are that demand will continue to be robust. While there have been single digit growth rates around the world, India has been an exception to that.
Corporate travel is making a comeback as there are people to meet, business meetings to conduct, and relationships to rebuild. Everyone is seeking steady, predictable growth in the corporate segment, which also happens to be the segment that purchases premium travel, books premium tickets, and stays in premium hotels. Overall, it all sounds positive and promising for the travel sector as long as the world economy and the geo-political situation around the world stays relatively stable.
There are supply chain constraints on the airline side, along with some factors hindering growth, such as airline engine issues. However, when adjusted for these challenges, growth remains strong and is expected to stay robust. Considering the significant number of aircraft orders with India at the forefront, this points to sustained growth in the country – likely outpacing the growth seen globally.
TOI: Airline pricing dynamics are changing with NDC and continuous pricing. How is Sabre helping airlines, especially Air India, optimize revenue (ancillary revenue) in this evolving environment?
Roshan: We are very pleased to partner with Air India. With Air India now under the Tata Group’s management, it’s poised for significant growth both within India and internationally. We greatly value this partnership and are committed to expanding it further…
Click here to read the full interview on TOI.
This exclusive interview with Roshan Mendis was published on the Times of India.