ETIHAD Airways’ ‘big switch’ to its new Sabre Airline Solutions ‘SabreSonic’ Customer Sales and Service (CSS) system has been successfully completed with minimal operational disruption across the airline’s global flight network during the cutover period.
The ‘big switch’ started at 11pm (UAE time) on February 22 and the main cutover was completed for start of business (UAE time) on February 24, with the SabreSonic CSS fully implemented and all sales channels, web and check-in systems back online by mid-afternoon.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive officer, said: “The cutover to the new SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service system has been an outstanding operation involving thousands of Etihad Airways’ staff and months of hard work.
“The mammoth cutover operation involved hundreds of members of Etihad Airways’ staff who initially implemented, tested and configured the new software. They then worked on transferring all existing 530,000 bookings into the new system and restructuring the airline’s website. SabreSonic CSS is state-of-the art in every way and transforms Etihad Airways’ reservations, inventory, eCommerce, distribution, and departure control activities, as well as providing customers with significantly enhanced mobile and communications access.”
The transformation, involving the training of more than 6,700 Etihad Airways and third party staff, is the most challenging IT and business-critical initiative Etihad Airways has ever undertaken and is at the centre of a $1 billion technology agreement with Sabre Airline Solutions.
In addition to Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub, 23 other airports around the world cutover to the SabreSonic CSS platform during the same weekend with the implementation in the remaining destinations completed by the end of March.