More no-frills seats bookable in the Sabre system

* Separate acquisition boosts operational involvement with European airlines * Sabre Travel Network has partnered with Dolphin Dynamics to make a wide range of European no-frills airlines bookable within the Sabre global distribution system (GDS). The news closely follows the announcement by sister business Sabre Airline Solutions that it has acquired the European firm RM Rocade, supplier of airline flight operations technology mainly for small, medium-size and low cost carriers. No-frills content from Dolphin’s FlightScanner product will complement the range of Web-only fares available in the GDS from more than 30 conventional airlines that signed up to Sabre Travel Network’s DCA Three Year Option. The arrangement makes 50 no-frills, web-only and regional carriers, including easyJet, Ryanair and bmibaby, available through the customisable Turbo-Sabre booking tool. RM Rocade, based in Stockholm, develops and sells software solutions to airlines for commercial planning, crew management and operations control. More than 60 airlines currently use the RM Rocade Integrated Suite, including FlyDBA, MyTravel, Cyprus Airways, Austrian Airlines, Icelandair, BA Citiexpress, Kuwait Airways and other carriers in the EMEA region. RM Rocade also has a significant presence in Asia with customers such as Air China. The Dolphin Dynamics and RM Rocade announcements are the latest in a wave of recent European airline announcements from Sabre Holdings’ distribution and airline solutions businesses. Last month (July) the two businesses announced operations and distribution deals with Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot and Italian airline AirOne, and in July the British no-frills carrier FlyBE chose the Sabre system as one of two preferred GDSs. Although the no-frills seats are being made available through third-party technology, Sabre Travel Network vice-president of strategic marketing and sales Stuart Nassos said the company was increasingly talking with no-frills carriers about how they can work together, rather than how they can’t. “The airline operations side of our business is an obvious and mutually successful area of co-operation,” Nassos said. “We are also able to help these carriers break into markets where awareness of their product isn’t high, or their ability to reach customers cost effectively is limited.” Richard Branson’s Australian low-fare carrier Virgin Blue is a classic example. It is using operational tools and systems from Sabre Airline Solutions, while selling its seats through the Sabre GDS in Europe and elsewhere. “Our distribution and airline solutions businesses have always been closely linked,” said Nassos. “We are the only travel technology provider that can offer airlines a full end-to-end solution involving GDS distribution, reservations system hosting and a complete array of flight operations technology. “Our acquisition of RM Rocade demonstrates our commitment to the European market and to offering local solutions for European carriers.” About Sabre Travel Network Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS) enabling agents at more than 53,000 agency locations worldwide to be travel experts. The Sabre GDS, the first system to connect the buyers and sellers of travel, today includes more than 400 airlines, approximately 60,000 hotels, 37 car rental companies, nine cruise lines, 35 railroads and 220 tour operators. 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 Corporation (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 ##