OMAN Air has named Sabre as its preferred global distribution system (GDS) as part of a marketing agreement signed last week by the airline and Sabre Travel Network.
This will allow Oman Air to promote and support Sabre as its preferred GDS through joint sales and marketing activities in Oman and beyond.
The agreement follows recent Sabre full-content agreements with Virgin Atlantic Airways, Scandinavian flag-carrier, SAS and US carriers Northwest and US Airways.
As part of the agreement with Oman Air, the airline has now upgraded to Sabre’s Direct Connect Availability (DCA), the highest level of connectivity in the Sabre system. This means that Sabre Connected travel agencies will benefit from full access to Oman Air’s fares and will have real-time access to the carrier’s inventory.
“This agreement with Oman Air is the latest initiative that proves our commitment to strengthen our position in the market and deliver more value to our customers,” said Daniel Naoumovitch, chief executive officer of Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “We are extremely proud to be recognised as the preferred GDS of one of the most successful airlines of the region, and look forward to a rewarding long-term relationship.”
In addition to the above agreement, Sabre Connected travel agents will now be able to issue electronic tickets for travel on Oman Air.
Oman Air acting chief executive officer Ziad Al Haremi said Oman Air had worked closely with Sabre Travel Network’s sister company, Sabre Airline Solutions, to bring itself up to speed with IATA’s e-ticketing requirements and “we were one of the first to use Sabre’s electronic ticketing hub to streamline our e-ticketing initiative. We are currently targeting to achieve 100 percent e-ticketing implementation by the end of 2006, a year earlier than the end of 2007, IATA’s target date for the end of paper ticketing. Through e-ticketing, Oman Air expects to reduce its distribution costs by approximately 40 per cent in Oman, and around 30 percent in the region.”
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.