SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 10, 2006–Sabre Airline Solutions, the leading provider of software and services to the airline industry from planning to execution, has signed deals worth US$2.5 million with Alitalia. The Italian flag carrier will use the airline technology provider’s revenue integrity products, as well as its consulting team, to stem millions of dollars of revenue leakage each year. It has also extended and upgraded its use of the Sabre AirMax revenue management system.
Alitalia will use two components of the SabreSonic Passenger Solutions suite to cut down on revenue leakage. The Sabre SmartFlow tool kit will enable the airline quickly to create robotic processes that interface with global distribution systems (GDSs), airline host systems, databases, e-mail servers and Web services. Examples of usage include revenue integrity processing, waitlist management, disruption management notification and down-line segment cancellation.
The second component, Sabre GDS Analysis, gives Alitalia the ability to evaluate fares and availability data on each GDS to ensure these reflect accurately the actual fares in its reservation system. This will eliminate unnecessary credit memos and help address traveler and travel agency dissatisfaction caused by inaccurate pricing.
Sabre GDS Analysis will also allow Alitalia to monitor how it is ranked against other airlines on different GDS displays and harvest route-based market intelligence about competitor fares and availability. The product will provide the information Alitalia needs to improve its GDS display ranking, such as schedule or fare changes.
Consultants from Sabre Airline Solutions will work closely with Alitalia staff for the first few months of operation, providing support, advice and guidance.
“Combined with the hands-on consulting expertise that Sabre Airline Solutions was able to offer, we’re confident that these products will help stem revenue leakage,” said Gianni Matassa, Alitalia’s director of revenue management and distribution. “This is a classic example of the way the wider Sabre business is adding value to its relationship with us — over and above the traditional distribution function.”
Matassa said Sabre AirMax Revenue Manager would deliver increased productivity, better forecasts and better overall revenue management.
Murray Smyth, Sabre Airline Solutions’ senior vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the products to stem revenue leakage had already achieved proven results for both British Airways and Air Canada.
“The clincher for Alitalia, however, was when we were able to run real data from the airline through the tools, and show them the results,” he said.
Smyth said Sabre Airline Solutions was in talks with Alitalia about the use of other products that would help the airline market and schedule its inventory for maximum profit, sell its products, serve its customers and operate more efficiently from planning to execution on a day-to-day basis.
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, while more than 500 use its leading operational technology. 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.
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, the Sabre Airline Solutions logo, SabreSonic, CargoMax, AirFlite, AirMax, AirOps, AirServ, AirCrews and Sabre Travel Network are trademarks and/or service marks of an affiliate of Sabre Holdings Corp. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. (C) 2005 Sabre Inc. All rights reserved.
CONTACT: Sabre Airline Solutions
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions
