SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 10, 2005–Air One, Italy’s leading privately-owned airline, has slashed its data communication costs by 40 percent following its successful conversion to a number of operational and decision-support products from Sabre Airline Solutions.
The carrier converted simultaneously to Sabre products in seven different areas: passenger management, revenue management, fare management, planning and scheduling, movement control, dispatch management and market analysis.
The data communication savings stem from reduced transactions as a result of greater systems integration. The use of “intuitive” graphical user interfaces (GUIs) eliminates error messages, but most savings come from seamless integration of the reservations and departure control systems, eliminating the need to exchange data.
Air One is using the SabreSonic suite of passenger management solutions for its reservations, ticketing, departure control, and booking Website. Its successful migration involved three call centers, systems in 23 airports and cities, and the conversion of 153,000 passenger name records (PNRs). The process was accomplished in just 18 minutes.
SabreSonic is used by more than 100 airlines around the world, including Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air New Zealand, Gulf Air, Pakistan International Airways, Royal Brunei and Southwest Airlines. Flexibility comes from “plug and play” technology built on common industry programming, a first for the airline sector. This means the technology is easy to add, access and modify to changing conditions.
“It has always been our goal to provide airlines with targeted solutions to their challenges and enhance their business through technology. We best serve our customers by doing both at a price point that airlines can afford as they rein in costs,” said Murray Smyth, Sabre Airline Solutions’ senior vice-president for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. “Carriers such as Air One are finding that SabreSonic is that solution.”
“Our growth goals are aggressive, and we now have a suitably aggressive technology partner,” said Lino Bergonzi, general manager of Air One. “We are one of the few European carriers now operating on a real ‘new generation’ open systems platform, and can immediately start taking advantage of customer-focused technology while at the same time lowering our operating costs.”
In addition to SabreSonic, the conversion project involved AirMax revenue management, AirPrice fare management, PC AirFlite planning and scheduling, FliteTrac movement control, AirOps dispatch management, and WiseVision Sales Essentials, a market analysis tool.
Air One has subsequently contracted with Sabre Airline Solutions for customer data delivery products to assist in its customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives, and is using the supplier’s consulting services for network planning and revenue management.
“One of the reasons we chose Sabre is because it provides one-stop shopping for airlines,” said Bergonzi. “The consulting service, combined with technology that spans our operations, is important to helping us achieve our current and future objectives.
About Air One
Air One is the leading all-Italian private airline company. This company operates scheduled passenger flights with a fleet of 30 Boeing 737s and is based in Rome. The Air One network covers 23 cities, comprising the main economic and industrial areas in Italy such as Rome, Milan, Turin, Venice, Naples, Genova, Alghero, Cagliari, Napoli, Bari, Palermo and Catania. Other destinations include Pescara, Reggio Calabria, Brindisi, Crotone and Lamezia Terme.
About Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world’s largest provider of software products, reservations and departure control systems and other passenger management systems, and consulting services that help airlines simplify operations and lower costs. Sabre Airline Solutions’ proven leadership is demonstrated by the growing number of airlines that leverage the technology and services: More than 200 airlines worldwide use Sabre Airline Solutions’ broad portfolio of smart solutions for decision-support tools to increase revenues and improve operations. More than 100 airlines worldwide rely on Sabre Airline Solutions for passenger management solutions, with 15 new carriers added and nine carrier renewals for SabreSonic Res advanced reservations in 2003. In the first half of 2004, six new carriers signed up the new generation passenger solution, and another three carriers renewed contracts. In addition, more than 100 clients worldwide have turned to Sabre Airline Solutions consulting group for strategic, commercial and operational consulting. More than 500 contracts worldwide were signed in 2003 within Sabre Airline Solutions and nearly 400 have been signed in the first half of 2004.
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, AirMax, AirPrice, PC AirFlite, FliteTrac, AirOps and Wise Vision Sales Essentials are trademarks and/or service marks of an affiliate of Sabre Holdings Corporation. All other trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Sabre Airline Solutions, Southlake
Media Contact
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions
