System to help cargo operation become more efficient and profitable

04 February 2008 - Etihad Crystal Cargo has selected Sabre Airline Solutions' CargoMax Revenue Manager to help the airline increase cargo revenue and profitability and improve customer service.

Revenue Manager is an integrated and comprehensive solution that supports the end-to-end revenue management needs of an airline. The system addresses all phases of revenue management operations from capacity forecasting to overbooking management, demand forecasting and bid pricing. The benefits of the system include the carrier's ability to increase cargo revenue and profitability, improve efficiency through management reports and performance monitoring tools, and enhance flight management through proactive identification of revenue streams while improving service reliability for the customers.

According to Des Vertannes, executive vice president of Cargo for Etihad Crystal Cargo, Revenue Manager will assist the airline in achieving improved revenues, specifically through effective cargo space and yield management.  

"Sabre Airline Solutions' CargoMax Revenue Manager will help us manage our capacity more scientifically, enabling us to minimize waste of our most precious asset, the cargo space on our flights," Vertannes said. "Additionally, it will enable us to improve our processes and better align our organizational structure to serving our customers."

Steve Clampett, president of Airline Products and Solutions for Sabre Airline Solutions, explained that the CargoMax Revenue Manager system would help Etihad Crystal Cargo manage the complexity involved in maximizing network-level revenue and profitability through the effective planning and sale of their cargo capacity.

"We look forward to a long partnership with Etihad," Clampett said. "Managing air cargo capacity is one of the most complex operations for airlines today. CargoMax Revenue Manager has increased cargo revenues between 2 percent and 10 percent for some of our customers, while the incidence of offloads and spoilage due to inaccurate forecasting issues have been reduced. These proven results mean good news for Etihad and their customers."

That ability to deliver value and results is one of the reasons Etihad chose Sabre Airline Solutions.

"Our aim is to possess an industry-leading revenue management solution, best able to support real-time decision-making capabilities within a volatile and unpredictable global market," said Mohammed Sherief, manager of Cargo Revenue Management for the airline.

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About Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world's largest provider of smart, proven, bankable products to help airlines market, sell, serve and operate from planning to execution. The company provides unmatched breadth and depth of integrated, dynamic business solutions delivered by experts to reduce airlines' costs, increase revenue and optimize the customer experience.

More than 250 airlines use its broad portfolio of 112 decision-support tools to increase revenues and improve operations. 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. More than 650 contracts worldwide were signed in 2006 for Sabre Airline Solutions' leading technology solutions.

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

Sabre Airline Solutions, the Sabre Airline Solutions logo, and Sabre CargoMax Revenue Manager 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.

About Etihad Crystal Cargo
Etihad's Crystal Cargo division was launched in September 2004 and currently offers a network of 50 destinations, seven of these cargo-only.

The fleet currently comprises of three aircraft: two Airbus A300-600RF and an MD-11F freighter, which joined the fleet in September 2007, boosting freighter capacity by 30 per cent.

Crystal Cargo achieved growth of 38 per cent in 2007 compared to global increases of 4.5 per cent and Middle East increases of 9.7 per cent.

Etihad's cargo terminal at Abu Dhabi airport has recently been enhanced and the division is now able to handle more than 270,000 tons a year.

Crystal Cargo was voted Cargo Airline of the Year in April 2007 by readers of London-based Air Cargo News.

© Press Release 2008