DUBAI, UAE, 15 September 2008 – Dubai-based Emirates, the largest aviation and travel services company in the Middle East, has signed a 10-year global airline distribution agreement with world-leading travel distribution provider Sabre Travel Network.
The agreement was signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group; and Sam Gilliland, CEO of Sabre Holdings.
Effective immediately, this agreement provides Sabre Connected travel agencies and corporations around the world with easy and efficient access to Emirates’ full content fares for the next 10 years through the Sabre global distribution system (GDS).
As the world’s largest GDS with more corporate and online customers than any other GDS in the marketplace, Sabre Travel Network provides Emirates the ability to reach more corporate and leisure travellers using a multi-channel distribution strategy.
Keith Longstaff, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: “In the past months, we have been working to align our distribution arrangements to support Emirates’ planned growth in terms of fleet and route expansion, particularly with the arrival of more A380 aircraft.
“Sabre enjoys global leadership in the corporate and online travel space, and has an impressive breadth and depth of travel services across both traditional and emerging channels. We are confident that Sabre is an ideal partner to help us accelerate our global growth and support our fleet expansion plans, and look forward to working with them to achieve this using our combined strengths,” said Longstaff.
Tom Klein, President, Sabre Travel Network and Sabre Airline Solutions said: “Today’s announcement further cements the long-standing relationship we have with the Emirates Group and our desire to work together for mutual growth. Not only are we uniquely positioned to help Emirates expand their global operations and reach through our extensive corporate and agency partnerships around the world, we also share the same philosophy on distribution – which is to optimise all possible distribution channels, explore new technology and develop innovative new channels. It’s great to share so many synergies with a partner.”
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, Merlin, a leisure tour operator platform; 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.
About Emirates
Dubai-based Emirates Airline flies a modern fleet of 121 wide-bodied aircraft to over 100 cities on six continents. One of the most innovative and successful airlines in the world, Emirates has received more than 400 international awards for excellence across its business. The airline has experienced rapid and consistent growth, above 20 per cent a year on average and has been profitable for the last 20 consecutive years. Financially self-sustained and unprotected, Emirates carried 21.2 million passengers in the 2007-08 financial year – almost four million more than the year before – and declared a record net profit of Dhs 5.3 billion (US$ 1.4 billion).
Media contacts:
Pam Wong, Sabre Holdings
Tel +44 (0) 208 538 8653; Mob: +44 (0)7 968 902 626
Email: Pam.wong@sabre-holdings.com
Valerie Tan, Emirates Group
Tel: +9714-7082142; mobile: +971505526231
Email: valerie.tan@emirates.com
